Editor's Review

Raila will later issue a keynote address at the Grand Campaign Reception which will be held at AU Multipurpose Hall.

The campaign secretariat of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is expected to unveil him as Kenya's candidate for chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) on Friday November 8 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

In a press release on Wednesday, November 6, the secretariat said the event is meant to provide a platform for Raila to engage with core players and partners of the AU.

"The Addis event is a follow-up to the 27th August 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 priorities in line with AU Agenda 2063," he secretariat said.

Raila will later that evening issue a keynote address at the Grand Campaign Reception which will be held at AU Multipurpose Hall.

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File image of William Ruto and Raila Odinga

This comes three months after Kenya officially launched Raila's bid for the AUC at a high-profile event held at State House in Nairobi. 

The launch was hosted by President William Ruto and attended by several East African Community (EAC) heads of state including Presidents Salva Kiir of South Sudan, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, and Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania.

In his speech, Raila articulated his vision for AU, emphasizing his commitment to making it more people-centered and focused on serving the interests of all Africans.

“We are going to introduce African Union visas that can enable you to travel across the whole continent without the requirement to have any visas at all. We will make it easier for people to travel and trade within the content of Africa," he said.

On the other hand, Ruto described Raila as Kenya's "most capable steward" for the role, emphasizing his qualifications and suitability for leadership within the AUC.

"Odinga's remarkable leadership and exemplary career make him a perfect fit to sit at the helm of the AUC and drive Africa's transformation and Agenda 2063. He is an ardent champion of African unity, African integration, infrastructural connectivity and youth empowerment," he said.