Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has come out to explain his meeting with Uganda President Yoweri Museveni and Kenyan counterpart William Ruto.

Speaking on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, Raila said that Ruto was in Uganda to discuss oil issues with Museveni, while he (Raila) was there to seek Museveni's support in his bid for the African Union (AU) Commission chairmanship.

"Let me respond to some issues being raised. I am not going anywhere, I am around. I have been running around trying to get support from different heads of state. I was in Namibia the other day. I went to the President of Uganda after I had talked to him to go and ask for his support. We met there with Mr Ruto who had also gone there to talk about issues they are having with oil, the G to G," Raila stated.

Raila, who spoke during the Homa Bay International Investment Conference, said that he was not involved in the oil talks between Ruto and Museveni, but instead sought their support after their discussion.

Kenya has been at loggerheads with Uganda since January after Uganda announced that it was moving to Tanzania for oil imports after Kenya refused to register its national oil marketer, Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC), to facilitate imports via the Mombasa port.

"After we talked about my candidature, they talked about the issue of oil among themselves. I asked for their support and both of them agreed they would support me. President Museveni said he would be the one to propose me as the chair of AUC and I said thank you very much," he added.

"I am not going away. Addis Ababa is only two hours away from Nairobi. I am available, whenever I am called I will answer. I am ready to work with you people. We must ensure what we set out to do is eventually achieved."

Raila declared his candidacy for the position on February 15, 2024, as he seeks to replace the incumbent, Moussa Faki.

Raila said he was the right candidate for the AU Commission chairmanship due to his experience in leadership.