Kenya’s veteran politician Raila Odinga on Thursday met with South Sudan President Salva Kiir in the capital Juba.

According to Raila, President Kiir affirmed commitment to support his African Union Commission chairmanship bid.

“Had a very productive meeting in Juba with the President of South Sudan. Thank you, H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, for hosting me,” Raila said on X.

“Your support and commitment to rallying the entire EAC block behind my AUC Chair candidacy are greatly appreciated,” Raila said.

The South Sudanese leader is the current chairperson of the EAC Heads of State Summit.

EAC is comprised of at least eight countries including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Somalia.

The Kenyan opposition leader has been travelling across the African continent seeking support from all African Union member states on his bid to lead the union’s secretariat.

Raila’s candidacy has also secured the backing of other African states including Malawi and Zambia, boosting his bid to succeed Moussa Faki at the helm of the AUC.

The Kenyan government has recently announced that it had set up a secretariat as it goes flat out to support the former Prime Minister’s bid for the AUC chairmanship.

The team’s first task would be to prepare the application documents to beat the August 6 deadline for submissions of applications.