President William Ruto’s government has distanced itself from a fundraiser organized by Friends of Baba. This group supports Raila Odinga’s bid for the African Union Commission chair. The government clarified its non-association with the fundraiser, despite requests for support circulating among leaders and Kenyans.
The Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary, Korir Sing’oei, leads Raila’s campaign. He emphasized that the Secretariat he heads is not linked to the fundraising efforts.
The lobby group, Friends of Baba, had sent out invitations for a fundraiser dinner. The event aims to raise funds for Raila’s AU campaign. It is scheduled for September 18, 2024, in Nairobi.
The lobby group, comprising African leaders and diplomats, has been active on social media advocating for Raila’s candidacy. They provided bank details for contributions and specified an African wear dress code for the event. Nevertheless, the government’s Secretariat did not comment on recognizing the lobby group or its support for Raila’s campaign.
The fundraiser aims to bolster Raila’s bid for the AUC chairmanship. But, the government’s dissociation raises questions about the dynamics surrounding the campaign.
The event’s exclusivity highlights the complexities of political fundraising. Also, financial support requests underscore these challenges in the context of high-profile campaigns like Raila’s AUC bid.
