• According to the Speaker, if Raila's bid becomes successful, it would lead him to step back from national politics.
• The Kenya Kwanza government urged leaders to put aside their political differences and rally behind Raila's candidacy for the position of AUC chairperson.
Image: WETANG'ULA /X
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula has endorsed Opposition leader Raila Odinga's bid for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission (AUC).
According to the Speaker, if Raila's bid becomes successful, it would lead him to step back from national politics.
Wetang'ula also noted that Raila will be contesting for the position as Kenya’s candidate and not to fulfill his political ambitions.
“He now wants to go to Addis Ababa and he can't go there without the blessing and support of the government. The President has said the job doesn’t belong to Raila but the Republic of Kenya,” Wetang'ula said on Sunday.
In addition to that, the Speaker noted that the time is ripe for Raila to exit the political stage, considering he has vied unsuccessfully for the presidency five times.
“What he has done on the local scene is enough, even Shakespeare said the world is a stage, you come to play your part, you leave and others enter the scene. Let him go to Addis Ababa,” Wetang'ula said.
Early this month, Raila made a surprise announcement of his bid for the position of African Union Commission Chairperson.
If endorsed for the seat, he will technically be edged out of Kenya's political landscape and the next General Election since he will be required to serve in the position until 2028.
Raila will only retain his rights to vote in Kenya as a citizen but his hands will be tied and he will not take part in active politics.
Since the announcement, the opposition chief has garnered endorsements from various sectors, marking a pivotal moment in the journey of one of Kenya's most esteemed politicians vying for a leadership role on the African stage.
The government said it fully backs Raila’s bid for the position.
The Kenya Kwanza government urged leaders to put aside their political differences and rally behind Raila's candidacy for the position of AUC chairperson.
Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura affirmed that President William Ruto's administration was fully behind Raila.
“If he gets an opportunity to serve us at the AU as the chair, we as Kenyans should forget all our differences and rally behind a fellow Kenyan. If Raila has expressed interest, we would rather have him there because when he is there, the interests of Kenya are taken care of. We as a government fully support his candidature,” he said.
Azimio principals have also endorsed the coalition chief's resolve to contest the African Union Commission chairmanship.