Ruto Campaigned For Raila’s AUC Ambition On The Margins Of The UNGA

President William Ruto has used the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to popularise Kenya’s candidate Raila Odinga’s bid for African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship....CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Taking to his official X account on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, Ruto revealed that he had met Senegalese president Bassirou Diomaye Faye.

During their meeting, President Ruto said they had discussed how they will deepen the ties between Kenya and Senegal.

The deepened ties, Ruto says, will help advance the two countries’ shared goals in peace, development and continental integration.

“We will deepen our ties with Senegal to advance shared goals in peace, development and continental integration,” Ruto wrote on X. The head of state further noted that Raila’s AUC bid was top of their discussion, on the sidelines of the 79th UNGA in New York, USA.

“In New York, discussed Raila Odinga’s bid for the African Union Commission Chairperson with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal,” President Ruto stated.

President Ruto intensified his campaign for the former Prime Minister during his tour of China in early September during the FOCAC summit.

Ruto during his China trip in which he was accompanied by Raila, met African presidents to discuss bilateral issues and the opposition chief’s AUC candidature.

In separate meetings, the Kenyan leader met Presidents Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé of Togo and Assimi Goita (Mali), Paul Kagame (Rwanda), Umaro Sissoco Embalo (Guinea-Bissau), Mahamat Idriss Deby (Chad) and Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia.

President Ruto has been at the forefront in championing Odinga’s bid to win the AU Commission’s top job stating that he will protect the region’s interests.

This is after the East African Community (EAC) leaders agreed to sponsor Odinga as the candidate for the African Union (AU) Commission chairman post.

Kenya officially launched the former Prime Minister’s bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship on Tuesday, August 29, 2024, where President Ruto hosted regional leaders to express his unwavering support for Odinga’s candidacy at State House, Nairobi.

The AU Commission chairperson is a big post that elevates the holder to a near head of state. Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei and former Kenyan Ambassador to America Elkana Odembo, who are leading Raila’s campaigns, have insisted that the government will pull all stops to ensure Raila succeeds.

Raila will face Djibouti Foreign Affairs Minister Mahmoud Youssouf, who is seen as his main opponent in the February 2025 election. Other candidates are Anil Gayan (Mauritius) and Richard Randriamandrato (Madagascar)…CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ARTICLES>>>