In a surprising turn of events, Opposition leader Raila Odinga has announced his decision to step back from active politics in Kenya to focus on his campaign for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson.
Raila made the announcement during a joint press briefing with Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, marking a significant shift in his political career.
“I am not going to be very active in Kenyan politics henceforth as I continue now to focus my attention on the continental campaign,” Raila declared.
He reassured his supporters that this shift does not mean he is abandoning Kenya but rather transitioning to a broader focus on the African continent.
Raila’s decision comes at a critical juncture for the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition, which is grappling with internal strife following the controversial decision by some ODM leaders to join President William Ruto’s Cabinet.
Despite Raila’s longstanding assertion that there was no coalition government agreement between him and President Ruto, the pressure has been mounting on him to hand over Azimio’s leadership to Wiper Democratic Movement leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
In his manifesto for Africa, Raila outlines ambitious goals, including enhancing African integration, infrastructure development, economic transformation, inter-Africa trade, climate action, and youth empowerment.
“There are several areas where Africa is having a problem. Issues of health, education, wealth creation, employment. We must create a conducive environment for our people in Africa,” he stated.
President William Ruto is expected to formally launch Raila’s candidature for the AUC chairperson next Tuesday, signaling the start of Raila’s new political journey on the continental stage.
