‘Tukutane kwa Kiwanja’ Raila Tells Opponents in The AUC Battle

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has announced his preparedness to contend with his rivals in the race for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship. Speaking on Sunday, November 10, 2024, Raila articulated his agenda for transforming the continent and expressed his willingness to engage in a vigorous campaign for the position, despite facing opposition from various factions.

“Juzi nilikuwa Addis Ababa. Mimi nikasema niko tayari kuhudumia Afrika, kuna wengine ambao wananipinga lakini nikasema tukutane kwa kiwanja.”  Raila said 

Raila faces formidable opponents in the AUC chairperson’s race set for February 2025. Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mahmoud Youssouf is regarded as the primary challenger to the former prime minister. Mahmoud. Similar to Raila, has been actively engaging with various heads of state to secure their support for his candidacy.

However, Raila has thus far garnered direct endorsements from several presidents, including Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu, and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame.

In his manifesto for transforming Africa, Raila emphasized his commitment to advocating for an Africa with open skies, aimed at easing travel restrictions for Africans by establishing a regional body to manage all overflight and landing permits across the continent.

Regarding energy, Raila highlighted Africa’s vast potential for energy production through the utilization of diverse sources, including geothermal, wind, and solar power.

Additionally, Raila reiterated that creating employment opportunities would be a key component of his agenda if he is successful in the election.