Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has launched an intensive door-to-door campaign across southern Africa to garner support for his bid to become the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson.
The Kenyan candidate has planned visits to at least 10 countries in the region this month, starting with Mauritius, where he secured backing from Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam earlier this week. Following their meeting, Raila expressed gratitude on his X feed, thanking Ramgoolam for his “unequivocal support.”
Raila’s campaign team, led by former Kenyan ambassador to the US Elkanah Odembo, is coordinating a packed schedule that will see him meet with recently elected presidents Daniel Chapo (Mozambique), Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (Namibia), and Duma Boko (Botswana). These engagements aim to discuss his vision for the AU and align with their expectations for the AUC.
Additionally, Raila will visit seven nations within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) bloc, which comprises 16 member states, including Angola, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. The visits are set to intensify in the next two weeks as Raila campaigns to succeed current AUC chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat.
Raila faces competition from Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Mauritius’ Anil Kumarsingh Gayan, and Madagascar’s Richard Randriamandrato. The elections will be held in February 2025 during the African Union Summit, with Kenya actively working to consolidate support amid strong regional competition.
