Last Tuesday, the President of the Republic of Uganda, H.E Gen. (Rtd) Yoweri Kaguta Museveni joined his Kenyan counterpart, H.E William Ruto, in Nairobi to endorse Mr. Raila Odinda, a former Kenyan Prime Minister for the Chairmanship of the African Union (AU).
Also in attendance to endorse Mr. Odinga were East African Community (EAC) Chairman H.E Salva Kiir Mayardit, the president of South Sudan, H.E Samia Suluhu Hassan (Tanzania), Burundi Prime Minister Gervais Ndirakobuca, Rwanda State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Gen. James Kabarebe, former Tanzania President, H.E Jakaya Kikwete and former Nigerian President H.E Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, among other dignitaries.
In his bid, Mr Odinga faces Djibouti Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, former Mauritius Foreign Minister Anil Kumarsingh Gayan and Mr. Richard James Randriamandrato, a former Foreign Minister of Madagascar.
The leaders marketed Odinga with glowing tribute to his statesmanship, credentials, seniority and a perfect choice for the job.
“He is the one to lead us in that big battle for prosperity and is the candidate who is fit for this job,” the East African quoted President Museveni, who described Mr Odinga as a “Pan-Africanist who is not just a job seeker but qualified for the post”. He said he was glad that President Ruto, DP Gachagua and other Kenyan leaders had united for the sake of Mr Odinga’s candidacy.
The host President showered his former rival in the Presidential elections with praises, noting that he is the best candidate for the position and that he would do all it takes to make him win the February 2025 election.
“I know that Raila Odinga not only possesses the requisite credentials but he is also the ideal candidate to lead the AUC. Accordingly, Kenya endorses his candidature unreservedly and we commit wholeheartedly to support his candidature, vision and leadership,” the East African quoted Ruto as saying, adding:
“Mr 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.”
As the host President, Ruto knows his now friend, Odinga, more than many of us.
Odinga is the East African candidate and as EastAfricans, it was reassuring to see the former archrivals for the Kenyan Presidency at peace with each other and promoting the interests of the continental following. This is good for Kenya and East Africa at large, because the spectacle of the former rivals “shaking hands” promises an era of harmony in Kenya which has recently been hit by a wave of violent protests which challenged the strategically positioned nation. Whereas the elections in Kenya have not favoured Odinga for the times he has vied, he is highly respected and influential and already served as the High Representative for Infrastructure Development, a position he held at a time he was at odds with the home government. Now that President Ruto and deputy President Gachagua have backed him, his prospects of clinching the post are high as well as serving a full term without much political machination from the home country.
Not to diminish the stature of the other contenders for the AU post, it requires a person who is senior, all in for Pan-Africanism and who is experienced enough to understand the continent’s past, current challenges and the future we need to build.
President Museveni always teaches us the tragic history of Africa, through the precolonial era, the advent of colonialism and its lasting effects, post-independence challenges and the current struggle against neocolonialism, plus the challenge of our people and leaders “thinking small.” Given the horrors that Africa has suffered through the different ages, and the campaigns of our independence leaders such as Jomo Kenyatta, Milton Obote and Mwalimu Nyerere to try and unite the region, how much more should we do to effectively position the great continent in the world geopolitical agenda? It’s a do or die affair!
The push for East African federation and African Integration needs all hands on board. That’s why while East Africa backs Odinga, the contest for AU chairmanship should be as amicable and smooth as possible so that the fabric of Africanness is not shredded at the altar of careerism. Whoever emerges winner and whatever happens, Africa’s interests should come first!
All African peoples are interested in peace, prosperity and socio-economic transformation, good governance, quality education and infrastructure, opportunities for jobs and business/trade with the world and a better understanding of what it means to be African and what each one of us can do to make Africa competitive at the global stage.
On another angle, I recall during the heated Kenyan elections there were allegations that Uganda was backing one of the candidates and this was reechoed during the GenZ protests. Because of that allegation, some Kenyan politicians have been working to undermine the Government of Uganda and President Museveni in particular. Now, what do those people have to say now that President Museveni is openly backing Odinga- at even a higher level? President Museveni has no policy of interfering in the internal affairs of other countries just like we don’t expect others to interfere in ours. We need each other as nations to promote higher causes such as drumming up Pan-Africanism and building a stronger and competitive continent.
The author is the Deputy Presidential Press Secretary
Contact: faruk.kirunda@statehouse.go.ug
0776980486/0783990861
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