Senator Questions Raila’s AU Chair Bid Process
Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang’wa has questioned the transparency of the nomination process that positioned Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga as Kenya’s candidate for the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairmanship.
In a December 31 statement, Thang’wa emphasized the importance of public participation in major national decisions, drawing comparisons to how representatives are typically chosen.
“When selecting athletes for the Olympics, we hold playoffs to pick the best. Similarly, we conduct tryouts for Harambee Stars players and use voting for EALA Parliament representatives,” he said, questioning the criteria used for Raila’s nomination.
He added, “The key issue is, how was the decision made to back Raila Odinga for the AU Chairmanship? Was there any public participation, consultation, or competitive process involved?”
Raila Odinga declared his candidacy for the AUC Chairperson role, with elections to succeed the current Chair, Moussa Faki Mahamat, scheduled for February 2025. His bid has gained significant support from African leaders, with President William Ruto actively seeking endorsements from nations like Rwanda, Angola, and Zimbabwe.
Raila has also engaged foreign ministers and leaders to bolster his campaign and took part in a public debate alongside other contenders, including Djibouti’s Mahamoud Ali Youssouf and Madagascar’s Richard Randriamandrato.
In a December 27 interview, Raila expressed confidence in his bid, saying, “Winning would be a great achievement for us. We are in this race to succeed, but even in loss, it’s not the end; there will be more opportunities in Kenya.”
