Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'oei has admitted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is on standby to endorse and facilitate the candidature of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga for the African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson role.
In a statement dated Thursday, the PS noted that the Foreign Affairs Ministry was the government agency mandated to facilitate such candidature for the country and seek support across the continent.
Sing'oei also expressed that the former premier was deserving of the post as the ODM boss is a statesman.
"Facilitating the candidature of qualified Kenyans to regional and international organizations is one of the mandates of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We are on standby to support this quest for a well-deserving national," he stated.
The Ministry is expected to begin lobbying for Raila should President William Ruto officially endorse his political arch-rival's bid.
Notably, leaders allied with Ruto including Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria have already thrown their weight behind Raila.
"With incoming Chair of Africa Union Commission. Africa will never be the same again. Super friend and a wonderful soul," Kuria posted on his social media pages.
"A man who ticks all the boxes. We enthusiastically look forward to Raila Odinga becoming the AU Commission Chairperson. There has never been a better candidate for this job than Jakom," former Senator Millicent Omanga added.
If the government backs Raila, the President, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and other government officials will launch a charm offensive in the continent to woo African leaders to vote in his favour.
Key to Raila's successful candidature will be the endorsement of the East African Community (EAC) block backed by the blessings of Presidents Samia Suluhu Tanzania) and Yoweri Museveni (Uganda).
EAC block is yet to clinch the post which has been dominated by other regions for decades. The last two occupants have been from the South African block (Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma) and the West Africa block (Moussa Faki). Faki is the current chair and has served for two terms of four years.
Additionally, Kenya's last candidate for the job in the 2021 elections, Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed, lost to Faki following reports that some EAC countries voted against her candidature.
Raila, who once served as AU's High Representative for Infrastructure Development in Africa, officially announced his candidature for the post on February 15 with the backing of former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Should he be elected as the Commission's chairperson, Raila will act as the AU Chief Executive Officer and earn a salary of Ksh2.4 million per month.
