Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is inching closer to clinching the African Union Commission chairmanship following his endorsement by over 20 African countries. On Tuesday, August 27, President William Ruto officially launched his bid for the top position in an event attended by several African heads and former heads of state at State House, Nairobi.
Raila is seeking to replace Chad’s Moussa Faki Mahamat and will serve for four years should he get elected.
If his bid succeeds, he will step into the role of Chief Executive Officer, legal representative, and accounting officer of the African Union.
Other roles include receiving of all AU treaties and legal instruments as detailed in the AU mandate.
“The Chairperson is mandated to facilitate the functioning, decision-making and reporting of all AU organ meetings, and ensure conformity and harmony with agreed AU policies, strategies, programmes and projects.
“Other mandates include consulting and coordinating with Member States’ governments, other institutions and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) on the AU’s activities, and carry out the AU’s diplomatic representations,” read the AU mandate in part.
He will be accountable to African heads of state and will be responsible for preparing reports that aid the leaders in making decisions for the Union and the continent.
With the significant duties, he is poised to receive a lucrative salary and a suite of perks for his role as the director and overseer of the African Union.
As outlined in the AU mandate, the Chairperson receives a monthly salary of Ksh 2.1 million (US$15,576.75) along with other substantial perks for his extensive responsibilities.
In addition to the Ksh 2.1 million monthly salary, the AUC Chairperson is also entitled to a monthly rental budget of $6,000 (Ksh 772,500), which covers rent and utilities such as electricity and internet.
Should Raila win, his wife Ida will also benefit from these perks, as there is a monthly spouse allowance provided.
“Retention of the Spouse Allowance of 5 per cent of Basic Salary, on the condition that eligible spouse is not receiving remuneration exceeding USD500 (Ksh64,375) per month,” read the remuneration guidelines in part.
Significantly, the AU also covers the entire school fees for the Chairperson’s dependent children studying in Africa or any other part of the world, excluding Europe and North America.
Raila Odinga is competing against other notable candidates for the AU Chairmanship, including Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mahmoud Youssouf, Mauritius’ Anil Gayan, and Madagascar’s Richard Randriamandrato.
The AUC’s Chairperson election will be held in February 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during the African Union Summit.
