02/17/2025
Ruto, Raila ride in same vehicle on way to AU summit
President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga used the same vehicle on their way to the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
In a video seen by the Star, Ruto is seen leaving a building with Raila and senior government officials including Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi seemingly heading to the 38th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.
Ruto then ushers Raila to a waiting Audi car outside and the former Prime Minister goes on to occupy the back left seat
Raila is seeking to succeed Moussa Faki as the AUC chairperson in elections set for February 15.
Raila is facing Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, and Madagascar’s former Foreign Affairs Minister Richard Randriamandrato in the elections.
Prior to the D-Day, Ruto held meetings with presidents and heads of states on the sidelines of the summit.
Ruto also met the outgoing chair in last-minute campaigns for Raila.
He held discussions with presidents Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (Equatorial Guinea), Bassirou Diomaye Faye (Senegal), João Lourenço (Angola), Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and Barbados Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley.
The chairperson is elected by member states, excluding countries under military rule.
A candidate must garner a two-thirds majority of the votes cast. An AUC chairperson is elected by the Assembly for a four-year term, renewable once.
The seat is held on a rotational basis among the five regions, and this time, the Eastern region is eligible to present a candidate while the Northern region is supposed to present a deputy chairperson.
The new AU chairman will be faced with the enormous task of tackling Africa’s problems ranging from high poverty levels, runaway debt, insecurity, illiteracy and poor health services among others.
A staunch advocate for Pan-Africanism, Raila has outlined an ambitious vision for the continent.
He has pledged to accelerate Africa's development and enhance the continent’s self-reliance, unity, and sustainability.
He envisions an Africa that rises above its historical challenges, realising its full potential through a new era of progressive leadership.
by Allan Kisia
