Raila Odinga’s admission that he is ready to take over from Moussa Faki Mahamat of Chad as the next Africa Union Commission chairperson has left the majority of his supporters preparing for life without him.
The new chair will be selected at the next AU summit, in 2025.
Although his party ODM has rubbished the ongoing succession politics, the truth of the matter is that supporters of the former Prime Minister who has played opposition for years are worried about who will be their defender should he exit the local politics.
"May it go on record that Raila Odinga in seeking the AU position has not made any pronouncements regarding his local political future and remains the party leader of ODM," the Orange party secretary general Edwin Sifuna said in a statement.
But the question that remains is who will be the ideal candidate to replace Raila should he secure the AU job?
Will it be Kalonzo Musyoka? Martha Karua? Hassan Joho? Wycliffe Oparanya?
Governance expert Javas Bigambo said Raila’s possible exit from elective politics will have a domino effect as many politicians rely on his shadow for political survival.
"Raila Odinga’s exit will be a career-ending for a number of politicians because most of them expect to score political points by mentioning him ahead of the 2027 General Elections," Bigambo told the Star.
Bigambo says Raila’s exit will open doors for supremacy battles within the Azimio coalition as politicians will be flexing their muscles within the opposition.
"It will be a blessing in disguise for some of these politicians like Otieno Kajwang' and Otiende Amollo who have potentially serious political careers’, Bigambo explained.
The Executive Director of the Kenya National Civil Society Centre Suba Churchill feels that there is no automatic candidate to replace Raila but instead, a leader will gradually emerge as his successor must win the trust of Kenyans.
"Some of the leaders in the opposition failed to take advantage of the available opportunity to show that they could rise to the occasion in Raila’s absence. The handshake moment is an example,’’ Churchill recalls.
He, however, said Raila should not be written off yet because he might rise to the continental politics but will still come back home and have a huge influence in the local politics.
AUC chairperson’s functions include: assuming overall responsibility for the Commission’s administration and finances, undertaking measures aimed at promoting and popularising the AU’s objectives and enhancing its performance among others.
