ODM legislators call for EAC’s exit from AU following Raila’s failure to clinch AUC chairman’s seat
According to Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Raila's loss had the hand of the state, just like he claimed in 2022 when the latter was defeated in the presidential election.
A section of Kenyans and ODM lawmakers have been hurt by Raila Odinga’s defeat in the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson election.
Those who passionately waited for his win have reflected and pointed out the possible dynamics that might have led to the outcome.
According to Embakasi East of Parliament Babu Owino alias Paul Ongili, Raila’s loss had the hand of the State, just like he claimed in 2022 when the latter was defeated by William Ruto in the presidential election.
Owino claims Raila’s loss in Addis Ababa, could be out of a deliberate act by President William Ruto’s government which was at the forefront of pushing the candidate’s bid.
“This is a continuation of a long con. If you know you know,” Owino stated.
On his part, Saboti Member of Parliament Caleb Amisi has called for the resignation of Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and the Director General of National Intelligence Service (NIS) Noordin Haji following Raila’s loss.
According to the ODM legislator, the two failed by misrepresenting the country’s level of support in the bid.
Amisi claims that Mudavadi and Haji lied to Raila which resulted in his loss of the top job on the continent.
“NIS is supposed to provide intelligence and useful information to help the country safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity and achieve its objectives. In this AUC campaign, Noordin Haji failed miserably. By now, Musalia and Haji should have resigned for lying and subjecting Baba to a loss that he doesn’t deserve,” the MP stated on his socials.
Amisi further claims that some officials at the ministry of Foreign Affairs are incompetent and misinformed as he called out the president for doing public relations instead of International relations.
“President William Ruto, it is called international relations, not public relations! Note the difference and learn before it is too late. Something urgent needs to be done to our ministry of Foreign Affairs. They are either incompetent or complacent, or the competent, well-informed staff are ignored by the powers that be,” Amisi stated.
Homabay Town MP Peter Kaluma said he will consider bringing a petition that will see Kenya’s exit from the East African Community from the African Union.
“I will petition the withdrawal of the East African Community from the African Union,” Kaluma stated.
On his part, Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina said that in the future, the AU should consider being split into two.
Alego Usonga MP Sam Atandi maintained that Kenya should limit its financial commitments to the AU and exit following the loss.
”Kenya must now limit its financial commitments to AU and in the long run, exit,” Atandi stated.
The Kenyan candidate was eliminated in the sixth round after failing to get the majority votes, leaving the race for Djibouti Foreign Affairs Minister Mahmoud Youssouf who proceeded to the seventh round and won with 33 votes.
Raila and Ruto conceded defeat and congratulated Mahmoud who was immediately sworn in to head the AU secretariat.
Ruto congratulated Raila for putting himself out of the race and running an elaborate shuttle campaign across the continent to enhance his chances.
This was the second time Kenya has lost in the AUC chairperson election.
In 2017, Kenya made its first stab with its then Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed who lost to the outgoing chairperson Moussa Faki.
Faki won the 2017 vote after seven rounds of ballot and was re-elected in 2017.
Mahmoud will now be charged with steering the secretariat in addressing the pressing challenges on the continent, including the escalating gun conflicts across the regions.
He will be deputised by Algeria’s Ambassador to Ethiopia Selma Haddadi.
