With the fast-approaching African Union Commission (AUC) elections, Kenya has stepped up its last-minute diplomatic efforts to secure the Chairperson position for Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga. Prime Cabinet Secretary and CS for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi on Tuesday afternoon departed for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to lead the final campaigns for the polls slated for this weekend.
Raila’s potential election to the AUC Chairperson position is expected to significantly elevate Kenya’s influence in continental affairs, positioning the country at the helm of key decision-making processes. His agenda, if elected, will focus on bridging Africa’s infrastructure gap, accelerating economic integration, advancing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and promoting financial independence, agricultural transformation, climate action, and youth and gender empowerment.
During his visit Mudavadi will attend the 46th Session of the AU Executive Council from February 12 to 14, where Foreign Ministers of AU member states will cast their votes for AUC commissioners. This meeting precedes the 38th Ordinary Session of the AU Heads of State and Government Assembly, themed “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations.” President William Ruto is scheduled to attend the summit.
According to an official Press Statement released by his office, Mudavadi is also set to participate in key side meetings, including the AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, discussions on eradicating malaria in Africa, and a high-level event on immunization.
Additionally, he will accompany President Ruto as he chairs the Committee of African Heads of State on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) and presents a progress report on AU institutional reforms.
Kenya’s high-level diplomatic push underscores the country’s commitment to securing Raila Odinga’s leadership at the AUC, a move seen as pivotal in advancing Africa’s collective interests on the global stage.
