- Raila last Thursday declared his bid for the African Union Commission chairperson job.
- According to his biography, the Azimio leader has an MSc (Master of Science) in Mechanical Engineering from Germany.
Image: LEAH MUKANGAI
Details have emerged about the academic qualifications that opposition Chief Raila Odinga should have to qualify to run for the African Union’s topmost job.
Raila last Thursday declared his quest for the African Union Commission chairperson to succeed Moussa Faki next year.
While Raila has received local and regional endorsements for the job, the AUC chairperson's job profile requires that he meet certain mandatory academic qualifications.
The job profile posted on the African Union website shows that Raila is required to have at least a Master’s Degree.
The Master’s Degree can be either in Law, International Relations, Economics, Diplomacy, Management, Business Administration, Political Science, Social Sciences or a closely related field from a recognised institution.
A PhD in the same field is also considered an added advantage for interested candidates.
According to his biography, the Azimio leader has an MSc (Master of Science) in Mechanical Engineering from Germany.
A prospective candidate must also have fluency in at least one AU language, and proof of transformational leadership.
The official languages of AU are Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Swahili and any other African language.
Raila is multilingual and fluent in both Kiswahili and English.
Raila will also be required by the selection committee to show 20 years of relevant professional and international experience.
“At least ten (10) years served in a progressively senior leadership role(s) preferably in an intergovernmental organisation or national government/public service, international or regional institution,” AU adds in its AUC chairperson job profile.
Raila is also required to demonstrate transformational leadership experience with strategic vision and proven skills in managing complex organisations at the national, regional or international level.
In addition, he would have to demonstrate a record of setting clear standards for accountability, probity, value for money, risk management and zero tolerance for fraud and corruption.
Former President of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo has already vouched for Raila saying he is the best candidate.
Obasanjo who serves as AU Commission chair Moussa Faki Mahamat’s High Representative for the Horn of Africa region said he has no doubt Raila “is the right person to take over the mantle” upon Mahamat’s exit.
“If the EAC region backs him, I believe the rest of the continent will support him,” Obasanjo, who is in Kenya, said on Thursday.
Raila, who served as Prime Minister during the grand coalition government, welcomed the idea saying it’s something that has been on his mind.
“I have been consulting widely. I think I’m ready to serve the continent of Africa. Africa deserves better,” he said during a joint press briefing with Obasanjo at his Karen home, in Nairobi.
The chairperson of the African Union Commission is the head of the Commission.
Should Raila receive the continent’s backing and bag the position, he will replace Faki and move to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the AU headquarters from where he will operate.
He will report to the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government and the AU Executive Council.
Raila will also assume the role of Chief Executive Officer, Legal Representative and the Accounting Officer of the Union.
As the accounting officer, Raila will be responsible for the administration and enforcement of the AU Financial Rules and Regulations across the Union and ensuring overall administrative and financial compliance.
He will also chair all Commission meetings and deliberations to determine the order of the agenda items and undertake measures aimed at promoting and popularising AU’s objectives.
Besides, Raila will facilitate the functioning, decision-making and reporting of all AU organ meetings and consult and coordinate with Member States’ governments, other institutions and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) on the AU’s activities.
He will also carry out the AU’s diplomatic representations and assume overall responsibility for the Commission’s administration and finances to ensure efficient and effective undertaking of the Commission’s mandate.
Other roles include the preparation of annual reports on the AU and its organs’ activities, leading the implementation of the Commission’s mandate and policies and supervising the performance and delivery of the Commission’s senior leadership team.
He will also lead diplomatic engagements and implement tasks assigned by the AU Assembly of Heads of State and the Executive Council.
Other tasks include ensuring the smooth and efficient functioning of AU statutory meetings, liaising closely with organs of the Union to guide and support and monitor the performance of the Union to ensure conformity and harmony with agreed policies and strategies.
The occupant of the AU chairman's office is also mandated to carry out such other functions as may be determined by the Assembly or the Executive Council of the Union.
Faki was elected on January 30, 2017, after seven rounds of voting, beating Kenya’s candidate former Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed.