Former President Daniel Moi's press secretary Lee Njiru now says that Azimio leader Raila Odinga joining (AUC) as chairman  has no tangible benefit to the country.

Speaking in Mombasa during a meeting with journalists, Njiru termed the campaign for Raila to be the AU commission chair as a self glorification and all 'heat without light'.

"When we talk of Raila being the chairman of Africa Union commission chairman,in my opinion,Raila being the chairman it's for Kenya's glorification and has no tangible benefit to Kenya as a country,"said Lee.

Njiru said the clamour for unity  through (AUC) has been overtaken by time because all African countries are already dividend by culture, currency and languages.

He said since 1945, Africa dis-unity cracks have never been sealed.

"We need to ask ourself what will we benefit from Raila being the chairman of AUC, African has been talking about Pan-Africanism since pre-indipendence in 1945, but there has not been unity,"he added.

Njiru opined that Uniting African is not a easy task for Odinga , because there is no political will within (AUC) nations.

He accused international interference by foreign nations as the stumbling block to Africa Unity.

"I have been listening keenly to scholars talking eloquently about Africa unity,if you go all African countries they have different currencies, languages,then even if Raila ve ones chair of (AUC) it's meaningless because we are divided by culture, currency and languages,"said Njiru.

Njiru's sentiments came a day after the unveiling of Raila Odinga at statehouse .

The East Africa Community (EAC) leaders this week  gathered at State House, Nairobi, for the formal unveiling of former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga as the candidate for the chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), in a significant indication of regional backing.

President William Ruto had invited the regional heads of State to grace his grand unveiling of  Odinga.

The launch marked the start of  Raila Odingas official campaigns ahead of the February 2025 elections to replace outgoing chair Moussa Faki Mahamat.

EAC chairman and South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit, Tanzanian’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni graced the event, signaling strong support for Odinga in the EAC. 

Rwanda’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs James Kabarebe and Burundian Prime Minister Gervais Ndirakobuca were also present.

Other prominent African leaders included former Presidents Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania and Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria. Their presence underscored the regional and continental backing for Odinga.

Raila will contest for the AUC post against Djibouti Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssou, former Mauritius Foreign Minister Anil Kumarsingh Gayan and Richard James Randriamandrato, a former Madagascar Foreign Minister.