Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, together with Kamkunji Mp Yusuf Hassan, during an informal visit at BBS Mall in Eastleigh on February 5, 2025./DOUGLAS OKIDDY
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has expressed strong confidence of clinching the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson seat in the upcoming elections.
Raila said having done his assignment, he is now well-prepared and "very" confident of trouncing his opponents.
"The campaigns have been successful. We have done our campaigns over the length and breadth of Africa, and we are sure we will get the votes from most countries of the continent," he said.
Without disclosing specific details about it, Raila, who spoke during a visit to Business Bay Square (BBS) mall in Eastleigh, stated that he has the necessary backing and the numbers he needs to get him elected.
He was accompanied by Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan, BBS chairperson Abdiweli Mohamed Hassan, and Eastleigh North Ward MCA Ahmad Dabar.
Former prime minister Raila Odinga together with Kamkunji Mp Yusuf Hassan, BBS Chairman Abdiweli Mohamed Hassan and CEO Munir Sheikh Ahmed during an informal visit at BBS Mall in Eastleigh on February 5, 2025./DOUGLAS OKIDDY
The highly anticipated elections are slated for February 15-16 during the Heads of State and Government 38th summit at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I
t will be preceded by the election of the six commissioners on February 12–13. Raila will be battling it out with Mahmoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti and Madagascar's Richard Randriamandrato. To clinch the seat, a candidate must secure 32 votes out of 49. AU has 55 member countries, but six are not eligible to participate in voting.
Raila has so far visited 40 countries across the continent. BBS is Africa's largest shopping centre housing over 1,500 retail stores that sell a wide range of products from fashion and electronics to household necessities.
During a private meeting with the owner, Raila expressed his admiration for the growth and success of the development.
He highlighted how such developments are crucial in shaping the country's economic future through job creation and in ensuring that Kenya can compete on the global stage.
According to the former premier, such investments can help create jobs for the youth, hence addressing unemployment. Lauding the developer, Raila said this has been his vision, noting, "this effort shows that is clear it can also be done in Kenya, not only in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, and our people can do it if we have more of such developments in Kenya, then why should we go to Dubai? Nairobi can also change," he remarked.
President William Ruto and his Somalia counterpart Hassan Sheikh Mohamud are among the other notable figures who have previously visited the mall. He also assured the developer of his support to expand their operations across other African countries if elected.
