Raila sells policies to Southern Africa leaders as AUC polls near

In about a month, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga will take part in yet another election.

The continent’s heads are scheduled to vote for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson between February 12 and 16 when they meet for the 38th Ordinary Session of the AU’s Assembly and 46th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council.

Raila has dreams of replacing outgoing chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat and is hoping his Pan-Africanist message will find favour among AU member states.

In recent weeks, he has been very busy, championing his bid across the continent. The former premier yesterday met Mozambique’s newly-elected President Daniel Francisco Chapo.

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“Thank you Mr President for the opportunity to share with you my vision for Africa and my quest to be the AUC Chairperson. Obrigado!” Raila posted on his social media handles.

Mozambique was the latest stop as he campaigns in the Southern African Development Committee, a body that boasts 16 member states. A day earlier, he met South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa and Lesotho’s Prime Minister Sam Matekane, championing his bid.

“We have discussed my vision for the continent, and I got an opportunity to outline my plan for the African Union Commission (AUC) anchored on 10 priority areas,” the former prime minister posted after meeting Ramaphosa.

In his SADC tour, Raila has also met Presidents Duma Boko of Botswana, Nangolo Mbumba of Namibia and Emerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe.

“Outreach to every corner of the continent continues. Thank you brave Namibia,” Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Korir Sing’oei posted about Raila’s whistle-stop tour of the south.

The opposition veteran began the year by meeting Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, days after meeting heads of West African nations.

His campaign team is confident that Raila, facing competition from Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mahamoud Youssouf and former Madagascar Foreign Minister Richard James Randriamandrato, will bag the AUC seat.

Lawyer Makau Mutua, a member of Raila’s AUC campaign secretariat has often described the former premier’s engagements with the African heads as “fruitful”.

“We can see only daylight ahead!” Prof Mutua posted after Raila met Mnangagwa.

The former premier needs to secure two-thirds of the votes cast to secure the position in the first round of voting.

Several countries have declared that they supported Kenya’s candidate. The most support has come from the East African Community, which President Ruto has rallied into backing Raila’s candidacy.

The chairperson position is reserved for Eastern Africa, with Northern Africa producing the vice chairperson.

The test of Raila’s intense campaign will be next month’s election.