William Ruto Asks Kenyans To Support Raila Odinga In His AUC Bid: "He Has Experience"

• According to President William Ruto, Raila Odinga fits the bill to be the next chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC)
• The president cited Raila's experience and understanding of matters pertinent to the continent, putting him ahead of the rest
• Raila has over 19 African heads of state declaring to rally behind his bid ahead of the vote in Addis Ababa early next year

President William Ruto has urged Kenyans to rally behind ODM leader Raila Odinga in his quest to become the next chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC).

What was Ruto's request to Kenyans?

Speaking in Kakamega on Saturday, August 24, the president observed that the longstanding Kenyan opposition leader merits to be at the helm of the African Union secretariat, thus the need for compatriots to bless his candidature.

Ruto noted that Raila's win in the race would connote Kenya's strides and enhance Kenya's outlook on the international stage.

"We have an opportunity as a country to produce the next AUC chairman. We must work together. It is not a position belonging to a person but a collective position as a country. Therefore, all of us must support our former prime minister, Raila Odinga, for that position because it will give us an opportunity as a country to serve at that level," said Ruto.

We have confidence that Raila has the requisite experience, understanding and knowledge to provide leadership for our continent. Because our continent is our future market and in all aspects, and therefore we must position ourselves appropriately," added Ruto.

Video; courtesy

Ruto is slated to formally endorse Raila for the bid on August 27.

Meanwhile, the ODM leader announced he would be taking a break from local politics to focus on his campaign for the continental job.

Raila's bid for AUC chairperson

The ODM leader seeks to succeed Moussa Faki, who was first elected to the AU secretariat in 2017 and re-elected in 2021.

He outlined an eight-point agenda which he intends to sell to the African heads of state as he courts their support.

TUKO.co.ke understands that the next AUC chairperson is set to come from East Africa following a decision by the AU Executive Council.

Countries from Northern Africa will produce the deputy chairperson, with the remainder regions; Central, Southern and Western Africa producing the six commissioners.

The Kenyan candidate will need support either by consensus or at least a two-thirds majority vote by member states represented by their heads.

Nairobi has charged itself with selling Raila's bid, allocating resources to crisscross the continent to court support from the African heads of state who constitute the General Assembly which will take the vote in February next year.

Which African presidents are supporting Raila?

Besides Kenya, other countries whose heads have declared their support for Raila are the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Tanzania, Uganda, Somalia, South Africa, Rwanda, Nigeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Burundi, Seychelles, Ghana, South Sudan, Guinea Bissau, Angola, Algeria, and Congo.

While at the AUC, Raila would observe the code of conduct for the chairmanship, where the office holder ought to take a back seat in their country's politics and, at the same time, be neutral in the African socio-political standings.

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President William Ruto.

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William Ruto asks Kenyans to pray for Raila Odinga - Tuko.co.ke