Azimio leader Raila Odinga has disclosed that he is ready to serve Africa as the next African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson.

Raila made the remarks on Tuesday August 27, 2024 during the official launch of his AUC chairmanship bid at State House in Nairobi.

The following is Raila’s full speech during the launch of his AUC bid. 

“I am greatly honoured and want to thank all of you for your solidarity with Kenya as demonstrated by your presence.

Today, as a candidate for the AUC chairperson, I am personally encouraged and humbled by the collective support from my country and the Eastern Africa region. 

The official unveiling of my candidacy as Kenya’s nominee for the Chairmanship of the African Union Commission (AUC) is a major impetus and milestone in my bid.

The history of Africa is replete with low and high moments. Africa is widely considered the birthplace of mankind whose political organization was reflected in great Kingdoms across the continent.

However, the continent has suffered slavery, colonialism, humiliation, repeated aggression, and internal violent conflicts.

However, Excellencies, like the legendary phoenix, Africa has risen from the ashes of these historical atrocities to make a full blown arrival on the global stage. 

Consequently, we have heard slogans such as ‘African Renaissance’ and ‘Africa Rising’.

Nonetheless, I envisage an Africa where our visionary sloganeering will translate into strategic action for the transformation of our continent.

Unfortunately, even as we rise, our continent still grapples with emerging challenges and vulnerabilities including identity conflicts and wars, hunger, poverty, violent extremism, adverse climate change, acute unemployment among our youths, transboundary pandemics and infectious diseases such as Mpox, and other threats to human security and dignity.

My plan is to work with you, Excellencies, and make the AU more people-centred and serve the interests of the vast voiceless majority of Africans. The African people should feel the AU in their lives.

Excellencies, if elected chairman, I propose to utilize the transition period to critically analyze the existing proposals for reforms and building capacity of the AU Commission. 

The ultimate aim is to follow up on the implementation of the reports so far formulated.

Certainly, the story of Africa is not all gloom and doom. Thanks to the work your Excellencies are doing, Africa has been on an upward and positive trajectory in recent years.

In February, the African Development Bank reported that Africa will account for eleven of the world’s 20 fastest-growing economies this year.

The continent is set to remain the second-fastest-growing region after Asia.

I deeply appreciate your efforts in restoring hope on the Continent, and it is my wish to have a chance to complement your efforts as AUC chairperson.

Excellencies, throughout my leadership and service to the public, I have noted the significance of defining strategic goals and appreciating the influence of political dynamics on the outcomes of these goals. 

So, decision-making must be backed by a balance between policy and geopolitics.

I plan to work with you, Excellencies to integrate this continent. We are one people who, unfortunately, are trying too hard to separate from each other.

I have travelled the length and breadth of this beautiful continent, and I have seen the faces of Africa’s future. 

They are the faces of our children, full of hope and energy, and unbound by the borders of yesterday.

I dream of an Africa where those borders and colonial languages no longer divide us.

From the hills of Kenya to the deserts of the Sahara and Kalahari, from the lakes of the Great Rift to the rainforests of Central Africa, Africans have to be one, its resilience and hope for a bright future transmitted to our young people.

Excellencies, my selection to be Kenya’s candidate is not about one man’s ambition, but an African’s journey to serve the motherland. 

Indeed, I plan to constitute my “Cabinet of the Chairperson” with a continental outlook.

I am grateful that friends and eminent persons across Africa have volunteered to engage in my campaigns, from West, North, South, Central, and of course Eastern Africa.

Excellencies, I am ready to serve, my heart is ready, my hands are steady and with your support, I shall get the opportunity to be of service to Africa, the cradle of mankind. I am made in Eastern Africa for Africa.

Kindly buy my vision, the charge is 34 plus votes in the first round. I particularly appeal to fellow East Africans, that we walk this journey together and go to Addis Ababa as a team in February 2025.

I thank you and God bless Kenya, God bless Eastern Africa and God bless Africa.”