William Ruto Meets 6 African Presidents To Drum Support For Raila Odinga's AUC Chairmanship Bid

• President William Ruto is seemingly taking charge of diplomacy to help Raila Odinga win the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship early next year
• Ruto met with a host of African presidents in China, where he rallied them behind the bid of the Kenyan candidate
• Raila seeks to succeed former Chad prime minister Moussa Faki at the helm of the African Union secretariat

Kai Eli, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Beijing - President William Ruto has sought to ramp up the chances of Raila Odinga winning the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship in the oncoming vote in February 2025.

Ruto met with a host of his counterparts on the continent on the sidelines of the Sino-African relations conference in Beijing, which brought together Chinese leaders, African heads of state, and the African Union Commission (AUC).

Whilst Ruto's meetings with his counterparts focused on the wellness of Kenya's bilateral relations with the respective countries, he 'sneaked' in Raila's candidature for the top AU secretariat job.

Which presidents did Ruto meet in Beijing?

In all the brief engagements, the president appreciated the unique roles his colleagues have charged themselves with in bettering the continent.

But the call for support for Raila's candidature was constant.

He first met with Rwanda's President Paul Kagame.

"Met President Paul Kagame of Rwanda in Beijing, China, and deliberated on deepening our relations and also the candidature of the Rt Hon Raila Odinga for the position of the African Union Commission chairperson," Ruto said via X.

The president went ahead to advance his agenda to President Umaro Sissoco of Guinea Bissau.

Ruto rallied his Bissau counterpart behind the Kenyan candidate.

"Met President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau in Beijing, China, and discussed the role African regional economic blocs can play in the continent's integration. Also deliberated on the support of the candidature of the Rt Hon Raila Odinga for the position of the African Union Commission chairperson," said Ruto.

Ruto took the same gospel to President Faure Gnassingbé of Togo and Mali's Assimi Goïta.

"Held talks with presidents Faure Gnassingbé (Togo) and Assimi Goïta (Mali) on a pan-African Congress to be held in Lome, Togo, later in the year. Also discussed support for the candidature of the Rt Hon Raila Odinga for the position of the chairperson of the African Union Commission," said Ruto.

Also to meet Ruto was President Mahamat Idriss Deby of Chad, whom he courted into Raila's fold.

Chad produced the outgoing AUC chairman, Moussa Faki, who was first elected in 2017 and re-elected in 2021.

"Held talks with President Mahamat Idriss Deby of Chad in Beijing, China, on the country's role in helping resolve the conflict in Sudan, especially the influx of refugees. Also discussed was support for the candidature of the Rt Hon Raila Odinga's bid for the position of African Union Commission chairperson," he said.

The president later met with his colleague from Zambia, President Hakainde Hichilema.

"In Beijing, China, held talks with President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia and thanked him for his leadership as chair of COMESA. Also deliberated on the support for Rt Hon Raila Odinga's candidature for the position of African Union Commission chairperson," said Ruto.

What are Raila's key strong points for Africa's wellness?

Raila has already outlined eight priority areas pertinent to the continent, promising to address the challenges faced by Africans conclusively if given a chance at the helm of the African Union secretariat.

If elected, Raila promised to focus his mandate on Africa's economic transformation, intra-African trade, financial independence, agricultural transformation, gender equity and equality, climate action, continental integration, and peace and security.

He recently announced ditching local politics to focus on his candidature.

Raila will face off with Djbouti's Foreign Affairs Minister, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, former Madagascar Foreign Minister Richard Randriamandrato, and Mauritius's Anil Gayan.

Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura Guthua, journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke