Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed has said that Kenya will not alter its relationship with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) countries that did not support her bid for African Union Commission (AUC).
Maintaining that she lost bid to become AUC Chairperson due to switching of support from some East African countries, she instead said that the government “will re-evaluate some of the relationships that it has and see where it went wrong with some of them so that it correct it”.
Speaking yesterday at Intercontinental Hotel where she was welcomed by the public and Kenyan women leaders for luncheon, CS Amina who lost the bid to Chadian candidate Moussa Faki Mahamat, instead called for support to the new boss in unifying the continent citing that it would take a long time to dissuade Africans from believing that Western and Central Africa control the region.
“It was the first time Kenya participating in the AUC elections and it is not equivalent to the relations with our neighbours or the countries around this continent as they are much more important. Thus it is not going to affect the relations but of course there are great lessons to be taken in account,” said a contemplative Amina.
Amina further said that Kenya did not lose but has instead gained due to new friendships made during the two and half months search for votes.
“Throughout the journey we have made good friends for this country through and it is not because of the new found friends that we lost but the existing ones. It calls for deep reflections and tells a lot of untold tales,” said Amina.
Speaking on Tuesday in Addis Ababa, Amina had said that re-evaluation of neighboring states, which she did not name, would establish why they decamped to choose other candidates in the January 30 elections. Seen as a front runner, she accused neighbouring countries in her concession speech, of being “deceptive” and called for an investigation.
However, Uganda and Tanzania have come out to deny reports that they withdrew their support for the CS in the final round to clear the way for Chad’s foreign minister. Uganda said in a statement signed by President Yoweri Museveni that its support for Amina was unequivocal before and during the election.
Kenya government reportedly spent $3m in its campaign rallying support from other countries. Mahamat secured a two-thirds majority, 36 votes, to be declared winner.
The other countries suspected of abandoning the CS are Burundi and Djibouti.
