Why Raila AU job bid is in limbo

Raila African Union Commission chairperson (AU) job bid in limbo over new set of rules that might lock him out

Azimio leader Raila Odinga’s bid to become the next chairperson of the Africa Union Commission is facing new hurdles.

This comes after new rules guiding the election of senior AU members were proposed, which could lock Raila out of the race.

The proposed changes aim to reform the election for the heads of the continental body’s secretariat and make it more efficient.

According to draft changes circulated to members, any country that has previously held the chairperson or deputy chairperson’s position is ineligible to propose a candidate.

“Any member state that occupied a position from that region should be ineligible for future elections until all member states of the region served as members of the senior leadership of the commission,” the proposal reads.

According to the previous arrangement, the seat is rotational; hence, the next chairperson should come from the Eastern Africa region.

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But going by the proposed changes, Kenya and Rwanda will be ineligible to contest as they have previously held the position of deputy chairperson since the AU Commission was created in 2002.

However, Tanzania among other Eastern African states will be the only countries viable to submit a candidate for the bid.

Kenya held the AU Commission deputy chairman’s seat between 2008 and 2017 through Erastus Mwencha.

Raila Odinga’s fate now lies in the heads of state and governments who will have the final say on the proposed changes.

As per tradition, AU decisions are made by consensus, which means a single ‘No’ prevents the decision from becoming formal law.

“It is not yet law. The process of validating and publishing decisions takes long. The final decision will reflect members’ will,” an official said

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