DP Kindiki wishes Raila well as closed-door session to determine AUC leadership begins
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has sent best wishes to Kenya’s candidate for the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairmanship, Raila Odinga.
Taking to his official X account on Saturday, February 15, 2025, Kindiki wished the fomer Prime Minister victory.
“Best wishes to our Country’s candidate for the post of the African Union Commission Chairman, the Rt Hon Raila Odinga,” Kindiki wrote on X.
Best wishes to our Country’s candidate for the post of the African Union Commission Chairman, the Rt Hon Raila Odinga.
— Kithure Kindiki (@KindikiKithure) February 15, 2025
AU closed session
Raila is competing for the AUC Chairmanship seat with Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and Richard Randriamandrato (Madagascar).
Kindiki’s statement comes as the closed-door session of the AU Summit, in which the leadership of the African Union Commission (AUC), including the six commissioners, will be determined, begins in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Election procedure
A candidate for the African Union Commission chairmanship has to garner the support of at least 33 nations to clinch the seat.
The election can take up to three rounds if the threshold is not realised in the first round of voting.
In the first round – usually by secret ballot – all the candidates are on the ballot.
If no candidate secures the required 33 votes out of the 48 participating member states by the third round, the next ballot is restricted to the top two candidates.
If no candidate achieves the required thirds after three rounds, the candidate with fewer votes would be compelled to withdraw.
The remaining candidate has to secure the required majority lest the election be suspended and the deputy chairperson assume interim leadership.
In the election for AUC chairperson, the balloting continues until one candidate obtains the two-thirds majority.
Where there are only two candidates and neither of them obtains the two-thirds, the candidate with fewer votes shall withdraw.
Where there is only one candidate and the individual fails to get the two-thirds at the end of round three, the chairperson shall suspend voting.
In such a case, the deputy chairperson shall take over the chairmanship of the commission until new elections are held.
If the stalemate is in respect of the deputy chairperson, the most senior commissioner shall be designated to act until new elections are held.
After the conclusion of the closed sessions, the AU summit will welcome the newly-elected Heads of State including Joseph Nyumah Boakai, President of the Republic of Liberia; Bassirou Diomaye Faye, President of the Republic of Senegal; Duma Gideon Boko, President of the Republic of Botswana; and Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius.
