President William Ruto has formed a campaign committee that will spearhead campaigning for Opposition Leader Raila Odinga for his AU Chairperson role.
According to reports, the committee is financed through the exchequer. It has also drawn members from the government and is set to recruit more officials from the opposition to strengthen AU Chairperson role campaign.
Ruto has during his foreign trips and his influence lobbied for Raila in various African countries to back Raila for the Top AU job. He also paved the way for the opposition leader to announce his interest in the top AU job.
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Government Officials have also backed Raila’s bid in what seems as President Ruto’s directive for them. The latest being Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi who announced that it was Eastern Africa’s time to take over the AU’s leadership.
“The Central, Southern and Western Africa regions have had their share since 2002, so it is now time for the Eastern and Northern Africa regions. Under the rotational rules, Eastern Africa has the first opportunity when the term of the current chair expires end of this year”
Opposition leaders led by Kalonzo Musyoka have also promised to support Raila’s decision and have vowed to back his bid after the former Prime Minister announced his interest for the role.
“We fully support his decision, and we shall back his candidature to our fullest capacity.”
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Among those who have endorsed Raila for the job includes former Nigerian President Obasanjo Olusegun who on Thursday said that Odinga was the right candidate to take over from Moussa Faki.
Raila has also declared his interest in the bid and said he is ready to serve the continent of Africa.