Raila Odinga during a past event//Photo Courtesy.
Saboti Member of Parliament, Hon. Caleb Amisi has sidelined the idea of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga incorporating President William Ruto in his campaigns in Africa Union Chairmanship bid.
The lawmaker has now approved Raila Odinga’s campaign without the help of the President, whom he claimed wrapped a bad name for Raila. He appended that having Ruto in the bid was a mess to Raila’s many years of democratic achievements on the African stage.
“So far, @RailaOdinga has visited 7 francophone countries; Benin, Togo, Gambia, Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast and Nigeria. Ruto walked with Baba around Africa with a bad name and was messing up Raila’s decades long democratic credentials on African stage,” wrote the MP.
He is now assured of Raila Odinga’s victory after the leader took an initiative to campaign by himself ahead of the February 2025 AU Chairmanship election
“Now, this looks like a winning candidate. Looking for votes door to door by yourself is the cornerstone of universal suffrage. In confidence, get used to your next AUC chairperson for the next few years,” affirmed Caleb Amisi.
He went further inserting that Raila is the revitalization that Africa yearns for.
“Africa needs a renaissance,” he said.
In the past one week, Raila has made a progressive campaign for his bid, and has yielded positive results, even from countries which had initially not endorsed his bid.
According to his campaign team and digital Communications strategist, Pauline Njoroge, Raila has secured support from Mauritius, which did not initially endorse him. However, this support was notified to President William Ruto.
“Mauritius, which had submitted a candidate for AUC Chairmanship will now support Raila Odinga’s bid. This was communicated today by the new Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam, during a phone call with President Ruto,” adding that, “The Mauritius candidate had been endorsed by the former PM Pravind Jugnauth, who lost to Navin in recently held elections.”
Raila Odinga poses for a picture during a meeting with President Alasane Quattara of Cote D’Ivoire in November 27, 2024. Photo: Raila Odinga/ Facebook.
During the busy and fruitful 7 days, Odinga traversed West Africa, sharing his ideas and visions while engaging with government officials and Heads of States, who according to Pauline Njoroge, have received Odinga’s ideas, views and expectations for an effective commission and a united Africa.
From Ghana, Odinga was hosted by President Nana Akufo-Addo, while in Togo, he engaged with President Faure Gnassingbe.
In Côte d’Ivoire he was hosted by President Alassane Ouattara, in Senegal, he engaged with President Diomaye Faye, while Vice President Muhammed B.S Jallow received him in Gabon.
In Benin he was received by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Olushegun Abjadi Bakari as President Bola Ahmed Nitubu hosted Odinga in Nigeria.
