As the African Union (AU) is preparing to elect its next commission chairperson in February. Three key contenders are now in the spotlight to fill Africa's top diplomatic seat.

One is Djibouti's Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, a seasoned diplomat who is used to navigating the shadows of power. He's up agaionst Madagascar's former Foreign Minister Richard Randriamandrato, an economist promising to reshape the whole continent's image.

But leading the race is Kenyan political heavyweight Raila Odinga, a political warrior who must still reckon with unfinished battles at home.

Each of the men has a different vision for the continent, and each claims to bring the required experience to the job. But who among them can truly say he's got what it takes to steer Africa through its next chapter?

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Odinga is one of the most recognizable political figures in Kenya — his name evokes passion and division in equal measure.

A former prime minister, the 80-year-old is regarded as a fearless champion of democracy by those who are loyal to him. To his critics however, he is a political relic: a five-time presidential contender who has mastered the art of losing and refusing to fade away.

While Odinga has struggled to win over voters in Kenya, his experience in peace negotiations and infrastructure development across the rest of Africa has earned him credibility beyond his native nation's borders.

His tenure as the AU's High Representative for Infrastructure saw him advocate........

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