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Kenya Spent Sh524 Million on Raila Odinga’s Failed AU Chairmanship Bid, MPs Told
Kenya set aside Sh524 million to fund Raila Odinga’s unsuccessful bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship, according to a parliamentary report.
The National Assembly’s Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations Committee revealed that the funds covered expenses such as chartered flights, accommodation, airport transfers, and a continent-wide publicity campaign to promote Raila’s candidacy.
Committee Chair Nelson Koech disclosed these details before the Liaison Committee, which is currently reviewing the second supplementary budget for the 2024/25 financial year. The committee, led by Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss, is overseeing the process as the Budget and Appropriations Committee is yet to take office.
Koech defended the expenditure, stating that it was legally allocated under Article 223 of the Constitution, which allows the government to withdraw funds from the Consolidated Fund for urgent matters without prior parliamentary approval, provided the expenditure does not exceed 10% of the annual budget. However, such withdrawals must be ratified by the National Assembly within two months.
According to Koech, who also serves as the MP for Belgut, the funds were primarily designated for supporting international candidates, specifically Raila’s AU campaign.
Despite Kenya’s heavy financial backing, Raila lost to Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahamoud Youssouf during the AU elections held on February 15 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Raila withdrew from the race in the sixth round after Youssouf secured a two-thirds majority vote.
This is not the first time Kenya has invested significantly in an AU leadership campaign. In 2017, the country spent Sh438 million on former Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed’s bid for the same position, but she was also unsuccessful.
