Raila Odinga's Statement After Meeting 6 African Heads of State

President William Ruto and Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Wednesday, September 4 met six African Presidents in Beijing China.

In an update, Raila said they presented his African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson bid and his bold plans to reform the union if he wins the election slated for 2025.

“At the Beijing conference, President William Ruto and I seized the moment to engage with a dynamic array of African leaders. We presented our bold plans for AU reforms and my candidacy for AUC chairman,” said Raila.

He noted that the responses of the six Heads of State were remarkable and fueled his drive toward achieving a prosperous African Continent.

“Their remarkable responses, enthusiasm, and commitment fuel our drive toward a more unified and prosperous Africa,” Raila added.

The six Presidents Raila and Ruto met include; Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé of Togo, Mali’s Assimi Goita, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, and President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau.

They also held a meeting with President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia and Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno of Chad to lobby for Odinga’s AUC candidature.

This comes days after President Ruto officially launched Raila’s AUC bid at an event at State House Nairobi that was attended by President Samia Suluhu (Tanzania), Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Salva Kiir (South Sudan), and the Prime Minister of Burundi Gervais Ndirakobuca.

The AUC chairperson elections will be held in February 2025 during an African Union Summit.

Raila will face three candidates; Djibouti's Foreign Affairs Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Anil Kumarsingh Gayan from Mauritius, and Richard Randriamandrato from Madagascar.