Raila Odinga's candidature to become chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) is facing numerous challenges. Despite the support of President William Ruto and other high-ranking officials, considerable difficulties remain. One big concern is that Kenya has yet to submit Odinga's candidature, missing the original deadline of July 1st. Furthermore, the relevant application documentation must be completed in numerous languages, which has not been accomplished.
Odinga's outspoken criticism of the existing government, as well as his participation in recent protests, have hampered his candidature. These actions have produced a politically charged environment, which may be harming his chances. His team is aggressively working to align their efforts with the government's policy in order to achieve a unified approach. However, forming a secretariat and collecting a funding for the campaign remain outstanding challenges.
The final deadline to submit Odinga's candidature is 6 August. If the relevant documentation and preparations are not completed by then, his campaign for the AUC leadership could be jeopardised. The team working on Odinga's campaign is under intense pressure to meet these deadlines and resolve unresolved challenges.
While Odinga's campaign has official support, missing deadlines, inadequate documentation, and political upheaval pose substantial hurdles. His bid's success will be determined by how quickly these issues are resolved and how well his team and the government work together.