President William Ruto will officially launch former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s bid for African Union Commission chairmanship next week.
Speaking on Wednesday after meeting Raila, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi called on Kenyans to stand with the Azimio leader.
He insisted that Raila has always represented the values and aspirations of Kenya.
“It is also programmed that next week, August 27, 2024, His Excellency President William Ruto will be formally launching the candidacy of the Kenyan Candidate in the name of Raila Odinga,” Mudavadi said.
“Hon Raila Odinga represents Kenya’s voice, values and aspirations on the continent. As he steps forward, let us stand with him, not just as a government but as a united people.”
He commended President William Ruto and his administration for supporting Raila’s candidature.
He said the ODM leader has the government’s endorsement and full support
“To fellow Kenyans, as a nation, we have always come together to stand with our own whether on the tracks, field or the global stage. Just as we cheered our athletes in the Olympics, let us lend our full support to Raila as he carries the Kenyan flag high in the race for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission. This is more than a candidacy, it is a national mission,” the Prime CS said.
In July, Kenya formally submitted the ODM leader’s bid for the African Union Chairmanship seat.
Foreign affairs PS Korir Singo’ei said the government had presented the requisite documentation of Kenya’s nominee for the Chairmanship to the Dean of Eastern Region.
“Under the authority of the Government of Kenya and as per the Statutes and Rules of the African Union Commission, we have today formally submitted requisite documentation of Kenya’s nominee for the Chairmanship of African Union, H.E. Raila Amolo Odinga, to the Dean of Eastern Region, H.E. Dharmraj Busgeeth, Ambassador of Mauritius,” Singo’ei said.
Present during the submission of the bid were Raila’s close ally Makau Mutua and Kenya’s ambassador to Addis Ababa George Orina, among other officials.
The government formed a joint campaign secretariat to help Raila in his bid.
The joint secretariat brings together strategy and campaign teams from Raila’s camp and the government’s side.
The secretariat is domiciled at the Railways Building which houses the office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary and CS for Foreign Affairs Musalia Mudavadi.
