Odinga is seeking to make history as the first Kenyan to hold the position of AU Commission Chair since the establishment of the body in 2002.

The election is set to be held on Saturday, February 16, where Odinga will face off against two other formidable candidates, including Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and Madagascar’s Richard Randriamandrato.

The longstanding opposition chief was endorsed by his political nemesis, President William Ruto, for the race, turning them into allies after their clash in the 2022 presidential election.

Having unsuccessfully contested for the presidency a record five times—in 1997, 2007, 2013, 2017, and 2022—this race could define his legacy as his retirement beckons.

The 80-year-old has previously held key positions in Kenya, including serving as a Member of Parliament for Lang’ata Constituency for two decades and as Prime Minister between 2008 and 2013 in a power-sharing government following the disputed 2007 presidential election.

With just a few days before 49 African heads of state convene in Addis Ababa to elect the next AUC chairperson, Odinga exudes a mix of confidence and pragmatism—a reflection of decades spent in the political trenches.

The AU Commission chairmanship presents the octogenarian an opportunity to cement his legacy beyond Kenya’s borders, positioning him as a continental leader at a time when Africa faces complex governance, economic, and security challenges.

Odinga has spent months crisscrossing Africa, rallying support from heads of state, foreign ministers, and diplomatic envoys. His campaign has emphasized his experience in governance, his deep-rooted Pan-African ideals, and his ability to foster unity within the AU, where he served as High Representative for Infrastructure Development from October 2018 to February 2023.

“I have spoken to all the leaders across Africa. If they agree, I will be the AUC chairperson. The vote will be cast on Saturday,” Odinga said on Monday, February 10 during an interdenominational prayer service organized by Kenya’s ODM Women’s Chapter.

With the AU’s rotational leadership principle in play, East Africa, where both Kenya and Djibouti belong, is seen as the preferred region to produce the next chair. This makes Youssouf Odinga’s strongest rival.

To secure a first-round victory, Odinga needs at least 33 votes out of 49 eligible heads of state. The election is conducted via secret ballot, meaning alliances and loyalties will be tested in the voting room. Despite his campaign efforts, Odinga knows that nothing is guaranteed.

"If I am elected, well and good; if I am not, that is also fine. Don’t I have my home?" Odinga told his supporters in Nairobi on Monday.

For Odinga, the AU Commission role represents more than just a new political chapter, it is a chance to shape Africa’s future on a grand scale. If he wins, he will oversee policies on economic integration, conflict resolution, and governance reforms across the continent. If he loses, it could mark the end of an era for one of Africa’s most resilient political figures.

Among his pledges if he wins the coveted seat is the rollout of a continental visa.

According to Odinga, the introduction of an AU visa would significantly enhance the free movement of people and goods across the continent, thereby promoting intra-Africa trade.

Speaking during the launch of his campaign in Nairobi in August last year, Odinga lamented that traders and businesspeople in Africa are required to obtain numerous visas to travel across the continent, while their foreign counterparts can do so freely.

“My friend Aliko Dangote says that to travel across the continent, he needs 35 visas. His French competitor does not need a visa to travel with a French visa in Africa. What a shame. In Europe, you only need a Schengen visa to travel across the entire continent without a problem,” Odinga said.

He pledged to introduce the AU visa to remove the bottlenecks that have hindered free movement for decades.

If elected AU Commission Chair, Odinga also promised to pursue a Continental Air Control System to streamline air travel by reducing bureaucratic hurdles, improving efficiency, and enhancing coordination between countries.

Despite Odinga’s robust campaign, Djbouti’s Youssouf remains a strong contender, backed by historical voting patterns where Francophone countries often support their own.

However, Odinga has garnered support from Anglophone and reformist AU blocs, leaving the outcome uncertain and potentially hinging on last-minute alliances.

Raila Odinga is seeking to make history as the first Kenyan to hold the position of AU Commission Chair since the establishment of the body in 2002.