Raila Takes AU Bid To New York Meeting

Raila Takes AU Bid To New York Meeting

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is set to leave the country to attend the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York as part of his African Union Commission vote-hunting mission.

He is expected to engage African heads of state attending the New York meeting as he bolsters his campaign for the African Union Commission chairperson.

Fifty-four African countries are participants in the UNGA, which has a membership of 193 countries.

Former Kenyan Ambassador to the US Elkana Odembo, who is leading Raila’s campaigns, has insisted the opposition chief will knock on all doors in his quest for the AUC chairmanship.

Speaking to the Star on Tuesday, Odembo said Raila will leave the country this week for the high-level meeting.

“The former Prime Minister departs for UNGA either tomorrow [Wednesday] or Thursday,” Odembo told the Star.

Raila will be accompanied by members of his campaign secretariat, led by Foreign Affairs PS Korir Sing’Oei and Odembo.

The 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly started on September 10 and will end on September 24.

The conference will discuss specific issues through dedicated agenda items or sub-items.

The meetings are part of Kenya’s diplomatic efforts to lobby for Raila’s support from African presidents ahead of the February 2025 poll.

Raila will have the opportunity as Kenya’s candidate to highlight his vision for the African continent at the African Heads of State meeting at the New York Summit.

Last month, Raila accompanied President William Ruto to a similar global meeting in China, where the two leaders met several heads of state on the sidelines.

During the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation meeting, the two pitched for Raila’s candidacy, meeting at least seven presidents.

Among the African presidents that Kenya’s campaign team met in Beijing included Rwanda’s Paul Kagame and his Guinea Bissau counterpart Umaro Sissoco.

Ruto and Raila also met Asimi Goita (Mali), Faure Essozimna (Togo), Mahamat Idriss (Chad), and Zambia’s Hakainde Hichilema, who is also the chairperson of Comesa.

In the February 2025 poll, Raila will face Djibouti Foreign Affairs Minister Mahmoud Youssouf, who is seen as his main opponent.

Anil Gayan (Mauritius) and Richard Randriamandrato (Madagascar) are also gunning for the seat.

To signal that the state will spare no effort to help Raila, Ruto has set up a robust campaign secretariat for the former Prime Minister, roping in personnel from across the continent.

“It [secretariat] will also include a diverse membership drawn from the five regions of the African Union,” Ruto said.

The President did not disclose the identities of campaigners from the other five regions – Eastern, Northern, Central, Southern, and Western.

Raila Takes AU Bid To New York Meeting