- The former Prime Minister said that he will ease the burden of travelling across Africa.
- This follows a meeting with the European diplomats at his Karen home on Thursday.
Image: FILE
Azimio leader Raila Odinga has outlined responsibilities he will play should he clinch the African Union chairmanship seat.
Raila through his X handle, formerly known as Twitter, raised concern that Africans are struggling to access other parts of the continent.
He said they have to present multiple travel documents and travel to Europe to connect to another African country.
"It is regrettable that 60 years into independence, Africans have to fly to Europe to connect to certain parts of Africa and require multiple currencies and visas to access other African countries," Raila said.
The former Prime Minister said should he get the seat, he will ease the burden of travelling across Africa.
According to Raila, the AU post will enable him to fulfil the dreams of many Africans.
"Further to this, it is my hope that as chairman of the AUC, I will help the continent embark on long-deferred dreams including making River Nile navigable and connecting the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Victoria – Lake Tanganyika water bodies to facilitate efficient logistics in the interiors," Raila said.
This follows a meeting with the European diplomats at his Karen home on Thursday.
The Azimio boss held separate meetings with the Norwegian ambassador to Kenya Gunnar Andreas Holm and Australia's High Commissioner Jenny Da Rin.
At the same time, Raila briefed the diplomats on his quest for AUC chairmanship and his plans for the continent should he ascend to office.
The former PM singled out continental integration, removal of non-trade barriers, global cooperation, stability and free movement of goods and people as priority areas he would focus on as AUC chair.
The diplomats encouraged Raila in his quest and expressed hope that he would focus the continent on critical matters holding it back.
Recently, the AU Executive Council ratified a decision to have Eastern Africa produce the next chairperson.
In a unanimous vote during the 22nd Extraordinary Session of the Executive Council, the AU Council also gave the deputy chairperson to Northern Africa.
In the arrangement, Central, Southern and Western Africa will flex muscles for the six slots for commissioners.
The decision is in accordance with the Statute of the AU Commission, the Rules of Procedure of the African Union policy organs and the decisions of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government.
Eastern Africa was widely expected to provide chairmanship given that the other regions had occupied the top seat.
Previous chairpersons are Cote D’Ivoire Amara Essy (2002 - 2003), Mali’s Oumar Konare (2003 -2008), South Africa’s Nkosazana Dlamini (2012 - 2017) and Chadian Moussa Faki (2017 - 2025).