Mumias East Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Salasya has pleaded with Kenyans to consider praying for Kenya’s African Union Commission (AUC) Chairmanship candidate Raila Odinga ahead of the February 2025 election.
Salasya in a statement shared via his official Instagram account on Thursday, November 7, 2024, urged a section of Kenyans on social media to stop drumming up support for Djibouti candidate Mahmoud Ali Youssouf.
Salasya on Kenyans’ prayers
The youthful lawmaker argued that he had learnt how serious prayers by Kenyans work following the victory of Donald Trump in the just concluded United States of America elections.
According to Salasya, Kenyans had prayed for Trump’s victory, and that the prayers have since been answered.
The Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) MP stated that a section of Kenyans who developed issues with Raila following his decision to work with President William Ruto, should forgive him, and pray for his victory in the upcoming AUC elections.
“Majority of Kenyans’ prayers were that Trump to win the election. Please Kenyans forgive Raila and stop supporting Djibouti candidate for African Union chairmanship position. Have mercy please Mzee apate hii kiti for once ameteseka sana. Nimegundua maombi ya wa Kenya sahizi inasikizwa sana na Mungu musimuombee aanguke. Please for once,” Salasya stated.
Raila’s vision unveiling
Salasya’s statements come ahead of Raila’s much-anticipated official continental campaign launch after President Ruto unveiled him as the country’s sole candidate for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson’s job.
In a statement shared by Raila via his official social media accounts, the event will be held on Friday, November 8, 2024, where he also give a keynote address at the AU Multipurpose Hall in Addis Ababa.
“On Friday, November 8, 2024, the campaign secretariat of Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga will host a series of events in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to formally unveil him to the continent as the candidate for the Republic of Kenya for chairperson of the African Union Commission,” a statement from Raila’s secretariat said.
“The Addis event is a follow-up to the August 27, 2024, official reception of the candidature of Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga in Nairobi, and is meant to provide a platform for the candidate to engage with core players, formations and partners of the AU. The candidate will use the forum to outline his Pan-African vision and prioritise in line with AU Agenda 2063.”
Raila’s vision unveiling at Addis is expected to help him gain more mileage compared to Djibouti Foreign Affairs Minister Mahmoud Youssouf, who is seen as his main opponent in the February 2025 election.
Other candidates are Anil Gayan (Mauritius) and Richard Randriamandrato (Madagascar).
