Samia Suluhu, Salva Kiir Arrive Ahead Of Official Launch Of Raila Odinga AUC Bid

• On Tuesday, August 27, President William Ruto will launch official campaigns for Raila Odinga's African Union Commission chairmanship bid
• Several heads of state from neighbouring countries, including Samia Suluhu are expected to attend the event
• South Sudan President Salva Kiir arrived in the country on Monday, August 26 ahead of the event

Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi- President William Ruto is expected to launch Raila Odinga’s African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship bid.

Several heads of state from East African Community countries are expected to attend the event, which will take place at State House Nairobi.

Which presidents are expected to attend Raila Odinga's event

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu and his South Sudanese counterpart, Salva Kiir, have already arrived in the country ahead of the launch.

On Monday, August 26, Trade Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya received Kiir at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

"South Sudan President H.E Salva Kiir Mayardit and Chairperson of EAC are in the country ahead of the Launch of Kenya’s Candidature for Chairperson of the African Union Commission on Tuesday, 27th August 2024. He was received at JKIA by Hon. Salim Mvurya, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry," Mvurya said.

Mvurya indicated that Uganda President Yoweri Museveni will also attend the event.

"Yoweri Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda and H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, are expected to attend," he added.

Former president of Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete and ex-president of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo are among the guests who have arrived at State House Nairobi.

The ODM leader will be battling for the seat, and several candidates from the region are eying it, including Vincent Meriton of the Seychelles and Mahmoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti.

Did Fawzia Adam endorse Raila Odinga's bid?

As reported earlier, Fawzia Adam's support enhanced Raila's chances of being the next African Union Commission chairperson.

The former Somali minister for Foreign Affairs had declared her bid in March but shelved it months later. She met Raila in Nairobi on Friday, August 9.

It is in their meeting that she declared her support for Kenya's longstanding opposition leader.

What else you need to know about Raila Odinga's AU bid

• ODM leader Raila Odinga issued a list of African presidents who had openly backed his aspirations for the continent.
• The veteran Kenyan politician officially submitted his credentials ahead of the vote in February next year.
• The AUC chairperson post falls vacant in 2025 following the lapse of Moussa Faki's second and last term.
• The United States of America Ambassador to Kenya, Meg Whitman, endorsed the Azimio la Umoja leader for the AUC seat.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke