Raila reveals details of meeting with Ruto, Museveni
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has come out to explain his meeting with Uganda President Yoweri Museveni and Kenyan counterpart William Ruto.
Speaking on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, Raila said that Ruto was in Uganda to discuss oil issues with Museveni, while he (Raila) was there to seek Museveni's support in his bid for the African Union (AU) Commission chairmanship.
"Let me respond to some issues being raised. I am not going anywhere, I am around. I have been running around trying to get support from different heads of state. I was in Namibia the other day. I went to the President of Uganda after I had talked to him to go and ask for his support. We met there with Mr Ruto who had also gone there to talk about issues they are having with oil, the G to G," Raila stated.
Raila, who spoke during the Homa Bay International Investment Conference, said that he was not involved in the oil talks between Ruto and Museveni, but instead sought their support after their discussion.
Kenya has been at loggerheads with Uganda since January after Uganda announced that it was moving to Tanzania for oil imports after Kenya refused to register its national oil marketer, Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC), to facilitate imports via the Mombasa port.
"After we talked about my candidature, they talked about the issue of oil among themselves. I asked for their support and both of them agreed they would support me. President Museveni said he would be the one to propose me as the chair of AUC and I said thank you very much," he added.
"I am not going away. Addis Ababa is only two hours away from Nairobi. I am available, whenever I am called I will answer. I am ready to work with you people. We must ensure what we set out to do is eventually achieved."
Raila candidacy for AU job
Raila declared his candidacy for the position on February 15, 2024, as he seeks to replace the incumbent, Moussa Faki.
Raila said he was the right candidate for the AU Commission chairmanship due to his experience in leadership.
“Today, I want to make it public that I am ready to go for the chairmanship of the Africa Union. I am ready and offer myself to be of service to this African content when called upon. I believe that Africa is playing in a league that it should not play in and that it deserves better,” Raila said on February 15, 2024.
Moments after meeting Museveni in Ruto's presence on Sunday, Raila said the two presidents were behind his candidacy.
"Several days ago, I accepted an invitation from President Kaguta Museveni of Uganda for a joint meeting with President William Ruto today to discuss the deepening of regional integration within the East African Community," Raila stated.
"Crucially, at the urging of President Museveni, we also discussed my candidacy for Chairperson of the African Union Commission. I am very grateful to President Museveni for strongly endorsing my candidacy and to President Ruto for fully backing it."
The campaign to replace the current AUC chair Moussa Faki is set to officially begin once all interested candidates submit their applications by May this year.
Suitable candidates are required to have a Master's degree in a wide rage of academic fields including Law, International Relations, Economics, Diplomacy, Management, Business Administration, Political Science, Social Sciences or a closely related field from a recognised institution.
According to the AU, a PhD in Law, International Relations, Diplomacy, Management, Business Administration, Political Science, Social Sciences or closely related field from a recognized institution is an added advantage.
