NAIROBI, Kenya
President of Kenya, William Ruto on Tuesday officially unveiled Raila Odinga’s bid for the African Union Commission chairperson seat at State House, Nairobi.
The launch marks the start of
Raila’s official campaigns ahead of the February 2025 elections to replace
outgoing chair Moussa Faki Mahamat.
Leaders present included South
Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu, and
Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni.
Rwanda’s State Minister for
Foreign Affairs James Kabarebe and Burundian Prime Minister Gervais Ndirakobuca
are also present.
Other prominent African
leaders include former Presidents Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania and Olusegun
Obasanjo of Nigeria.
Raila’s campaigns will be led
by highly experienced and knowledgeable individuals to ensure a
well-coordinated, targeted and result-oriented output.
Here down is Raila’s speech to
the audience:
“I am greatly honoured and
want to thank all of you for your solidarity with Kenya as demonstrated by your
presence.
“Today, as a candidate for the
AUC chairperson, I am personally encouraged and humbled by the collective
support from my country and the Eastern Africa region.
“The official unveiling of my
candidacy as Kenya’s nominee for the Chairmanship of the African Union
Commission (AUC) is a major impetus and milestone in my bid.
“The history of Africa is replete with low and high moments.
“Africa is widely considered
the birthplace of mankind whose political organization was reflected in great
Kingdoms across the continent.
“However, the continent has
suffered slavery, colonialism, humiliation, repeated aggression, and internal
violent conflicts.
“However, like the legendary
phoenix, Africa has risen from the ashes of these historical atrocities to make
a full-blown arrival on the global stage.
“Consequently, we have heard
slogans such as ‘African Renaissance’ and ‘Africa Rising’.
“Nonetheless, I envisage an
Africa where our visionary sloganeering will translate into strategic action
for the transformation of our continent.
“Unfortunately, even as we
rise, our continent still grapples with emerging challenges and vulnerabilities
including identity conflicts and wars, hunger, poverty, violent extremism,
adverse climate change, acute unemployment among our youths, transboundary
pandemics and infectious diseases such as Mpox, and other threats to human
security and dignity.
“I plan to work with you and
make the AU more people-centred and serve the interests of the vast voiceless
majority of Africans.
“The African people should
feel the AU in their lives.
“If elected chairman, I
propose to utilize the transition period to critically analyze the existing
proposals for reforms and building capacity of the AU Commission.
“The ultimate aim is to follow
up on the implementation of the reports so far formulated.
“Certainly, the story of
Africa is not all gloom and doom.
“Thanks to the work African
Heads of State are doing, Africa has been on an upward and positive trajectory
in recent years.
“In February, the African
Development Bank reported that Africa will account for eleven of the world’s 20
fastest-growing economies this year.
“The continent is set to
remain the second-fastest-growing region after Asia.
“I deeply appreciate the
African presidents' efforts in restoring hope on the Continent, and it is my
wish to have a chance to complement your efforts as AUC chairperson.
“Throughout my leadership and
service to the public, I have noted the significance of defining strategic
goals and appreciating the influence of political dynamics on the outcomes of
these goals.
“So, decision-making must be
backed by a balance between policy and geopolitics.
“I plan to work with African
heads of state to integrate this continent.
“We are one people who,
unfortunately, are trying too hard to separate from each other.
“I have travelled the length
and breadth of this beautiful continent, and I have seen the faces of Africa’s
future.
“They are the faces of our
children, full of hope and energy, and unbound by the borders of yesterday.
“I dream of an Africa where
those borders and colonial languages no longer divide us.
“From the hills of Kenya to
the deserts of the Sahara and Kalahari, from the lakes of the Great Rift to the
rainforests of Central Africa, Africans have to be one, their resilience and
hope for a bright future transmitted to our young people.
“My selection to be Kenya’s
candidate is not about one man’s ambition, but an African’s journey to serve
the motherland.
“Indeed, I plan to constitute
my “Cabinet of the Chairperson” with a continental outlook.
“I am grateful that friends
and eminent persons across Africa have volunteered to engage in my campaigns,
from West, North, South, Central, and of course Eastern Africa.
“I am ready to serve, my heart
is ready, my hands are steady and with your support, I shall get the
opportunity to be of service to Africa, the cradle of mankind. I am made in
Eastern Africa for Africa.
“Kindly buy my vision, the
charge is 34 plus votes in the first round. I particularly appeal to fellow
East Africans, that we walk this journey together and go to Addis as a team in
February 2025.
“God bless Kenya, God bless
Eastern Africa and God bless Africa.
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