•  Odinga, who announced his bid for the AU Commission job, aims to transform Africa into an economic superpower and believes that the continent deserves better.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame recently expressed his support for Raila Odinga over his bid for the AU Commission job.

In an interview with James Smart of NTV, Kagame said he admires and respects Raila Odinga, acknowledging Odinga’s contributions during his tenure as the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission of Infrastructure in 2018.

“I respect Raila Odinga, I know his struggles. He was at one time representing the Commission of Infrastructure when I served as the AU chairperson in 2018. He did a good job. We will give him our support and wish him well,” Kagame said.

 Odinga, who announced his bid for the AU Commission job, aims to transform Africa into an economic superpower and believes that the continent deserves better.

"As a Pan-Africanist I believe strongly that Africa is playing in the league that it should not play. That Africa deserves better. This is something we need to reverse and it can only be reversed if we as a continent marshal all our resources for the faster socio-economic growth of our continent," Raila had earlier stated.

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Raila Odinga's commitment to transforming Africa's destiny as a Pan-Africanist is evident in his relentless determination to shift the continent's position on the global stage.

Recognizing that Africa has yet to reach its full potential, Odinga emphasized the need for a collective effort that harnesses all available resources to foster rapid socio-economic growth. He believes that Africa should no longer settle for a lesser role but rather strive to become an economic powerhouse.

The AU Commission is a vital institution within the African Union that is responsible for driving the implementation of the organization's policies and decisions.

With the impending vacancy of the AU Commission Chairperson position, currently held by Chad's Moussa Faki, Odinga has seized the opportunity to contribute to Africa's development on a broader scale. Faki, having served two terms, will step down next year, opening the door for a new leader to take charge.

If elected, Raila Odinga would make history as the first AU leader hailing from East Africa. The previous AU Commission chairpersons have predominantly represented West, Central, and South Africa.

From 2002 to 2003, Amara Essy of Cote d'Ivoire served during the transition period between the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the AU. He was succeeded by Alpha Oumar Konaré of Mali from 2003 to 2008, Jean Ping of Gabon from 2008 to 2012, and Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma of South Africa from 2012 to 2017.