You’ll be ‘crucified’ if Raila loses AUC chairmanship seat, Maanzo tells Ruto

By Peter Ochieng

President William Ruto has been urged to ensure that Azimio leader Raila Odinga becomes the next African Union Commission (AUC) chairman.

Elections will be held in February 2025 in Addis Ababa Ethiopia to find Mousa Faki Mahamat’s successor, with Odinga among the front runners for the seat.

He has received endorsement from President William Ruto, who officially launched his bid at State House, Nairobi this week.

Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV on Thursday morning, Makueni Senator Daniel Maanzo said Ruto should ensure Odinga becomes the next AU boss, by speaking to various Heads of State in Africa, and convincing them to vote in favour of the former Prime Minister, lest he gets blamed.

“We are all wishing Baba (Raila Odinga) well in Addis Ababa, but I find Kenya counting its chicks before they are hatched,” said the Senator.

“The President quickly runs to Nyanza. What will happen if Raila doesn’t make it in Adis Ababa, I think the President will be in a lot of trouble because every Kenyan will believe that he is the reason.”

Maanzo said there are several things President William Ruto can do to ensure Odinga lands the seat, which has attracted three other candidates.

“He should be getting in touch with Presidents but not running away to Nyanza, he is just wasting more time and resources.”

On Tuesday, President Ruto unveiled the strategy to propel Raila Odinga into the AUC chairmanship office. He appointed Dr. Korir Sing’Oei, the Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary as the head of Odinga’s bid for the AUC Chairperson position.

Among key figures in the campaign is Raila's brother in-law Elkanah Odembo, a former Kenyan ambassador to the United States, who will co-chair the committee.

Ruto revealed that at least seven Presidents had endorsed Odinga’s bid, including Cyril Ramaphosa (South Africa) and Felix Tshisekedi (DRC).

Among those present during the launch were Presidents Salva Kiir of South Sudan, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia, Burundi Prime Minister Gervais Ndirakobuca and Rwanda’s Foreign Affairs Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe.