The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has expressed support for opposition leader Raila Odinga’s bid for the top African Union Commission job.
Speaking during a press conference in Nairobi, Atwoli described Odinga as best fitted for the job and urged the government to lobby for him.
“His friends are some of the current sitting presidents and if any one of them vied against him, they will not be able to defeat him,” he stated.
“He would be unanimously elected in that particular position. I want to assure Raila Amollo Odinga of the support from the Organisation of African Trade Union’s support for his bid.”
Odinga on Thursday signaled his interest in the influential position of African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson.
He has already started lobbying other African leaders to support his candidature as he prepares to formally submit his application for the role currently held by Moussa Faki Mahamat.
“I am prepared to take on this challenge and offer myself for service. I have requested my friend, former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, to continue advocating for my candidacy and engage with other leaders,” Odinga stated after a meeting with the former president in Nairobi.
Previously, Odinga served as the AU High Representative for Infrastructure Development in Africa from 2018 to February 2023, a tenure that ended amidst controversy.
President William Ruto is fronting Raila’s candidature, potentially reshaping Kenya’s political landscape as it may preclude Odinga from participating in the 2027 presidential race.
Ruto defeated Raila in the August 2022 election effectively taking over from Uhuru Kenyatta who had served for two five-year terms with Ruto as his deputy.
Securing the AU position requires the endorsement of member states.
As per the African Union, the AUC chairperson assumes the roles of chief executive officer, legal representative, and accounting officer of the union.
Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat. Capital News
