Africa: Who's who in Raila Odinga's continental top job bid

As President William Ruto gears up to officially launch Raila Odinga's African Union Commission (AUC) campaign next Tuesday, questions are already arising about the lack of diplomatic and multilateral experience within Odinga's campaign team, despite the high stakes of the continental bid.

Raila's campaign is anchored by a team of close advisors, family members, and former diplomats, yet a closer look reveals a noticeable gap in diplomatic expertise, particularly in navigating the complex and intriguing corridors of the African Union.

Elkanah Odembo, Raila's brother-in-law and former Kenyan ambassador to Washington, serves as the team's focal point.

Since Odinga was named High Representative for Infrastructure Development in Africa by outgoing AU Commission head Moussa Faki in 2018, Odembo has acted as Raila's advisor; nevertheless, he has no firsthand knowledge of the internal workings of the AU.

Odembo's diplomatic credentials, rooted in his tenure as ambassador during the Grand Coalition government from 2009, are respectable but not deeply tied to the multilateral intricacies of the AU.

His role has largely been one of support and advisory, accompanying Odinga across Africa without the direct involvement in AU politics that such a campaign demands.

Another key figure, Makau Mutua, brings intellectual rigour and strategic thinking to the table but lacks hands-on diplomatic experience, especially in multilateral settings like the AU.

As a law professor and former spokesperson for Odinga's 2022 failed presidential quest, Makau has been instrumental in shaping Odinga's public image, yet his knowledge of the AU's complex political landscape is untested.

The team's only members with substantial multilateral experience are Mahboub Maalim, a former executive secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and Anthony Okara, a lawyer and international civil servant who has been involved in multilateral engagements, having served as the Deputy Chief of Staff in the Bureau of the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission.

Okara has a deep understanding of the complexities and intrigues that come with a high-stakes continental election.

While their backgrounds provide valuable insights into continental diplomacy, their expertise alone may not be enough to make up for the broader lack of diplomatic depth within Odinga's team.

Dr. Nancy Karugu, a former Nyeri Deputy Governor who also plays a significant role in the campaign, has limited experience in diplomacy.

Although she claims to have been Kenya's Ambassador to the Nordic countries from 2022 to 2023, she never assumed the position and was not vetted for the role, leaving her actual diplomatic credentials in question.

Pauline Njoroge, known for her work as a digital strategist and communications expert, brings a layer of public relations expertise but similarly lacks direct experience in high-level continental diplomacy.

Her previous role as an advocacy officer at AUDA-NEPAD gives her some familiarity with the workings of the AU but falls short of the diplomatic acumen needed for a campaign of this magnitude.

As this team embarks on a mission to secure the AUC chairmanship for Raila Odinga, their challenge will be to overcome their collective inexperience in the diplomatic arena.

Their ability to engage effectively with African leaders, build crucial alliances, and navigate the complex dynamics of the AU will be critical to their success, but the lack of seasoned diplomats in their ranks who have directly worked as ambassadors to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the AU could prove to be a significant hurdle.