Aukot to Raila: appoint your successor before taking AU job

Thirdway Alliance Party leader Ekuru Aukot wants opposition leader Raila Odinga to appoint his successor, who will follow in his footsteps in the political arena, should he be appointed as AU Commission Chairperson.

“You need to be magnanimous enough to anoint a successor in both the ODM party and Luo Nyanza. Don’t waste that chance,” he said.

Aukot further asked Raila that should he get the position, it should be the right time for him to retire from national politics.

“Jakom (Raila), if you get it, appreciate it as a retirement benefit. There is no need to come back to local and national politics,” he said on X platform.

Raila declared his interest in the position of AU Chairperson last Thursday, and if elected, he will replace Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat.

The position of AU Commission will require him to exit local politics since he will be required to serve in the position until 2028.

The Azimio leader has received support from various leaders since he announced his interest in the position.

On Saturday, the ruling party (UDA) through its secretary general Cleophas Malala, said that it fully supports Raila’s bid for the top African Union (AU) Commission job, describing him as a patriot and panafricanist.

Government spokesman Isaac Mwaura urged all leaders to put aside their political disagreements and support him for the position.

“If Odinga has expressed interest, we would rather have him there because when he is there, the interests of Kenya are taken care of,” he said.”