‘Ruto did everything possible to support me’ – Raila
Kenya’s former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has defended President William Ruto following his failure to clinch the African Union Chairmanship seat.
Speaking during a dinner hosted in his honour in Addis Ababa on Saturday, February 15, 2025, warned against blame games against anyone, assuring that all parties involved had done their best.
“We accept the results and I have congratulated my competitor who has won and I wish him all the best. There will be no blame games that will be played, Raila stated.
According to the opposition chief, he was the author of the decision to run for Africa’s top seat, and the government came on board to support his candidature.
“I made the decision (to run for AU chairmanship) myself. I want to say that Ruto did everything possible. He gave me all the logistical support that I needed to travel the length and breadth of the continent. We were sure to win. However, other factors came to play, and those factors are going to be known,” Raila added.
“There will be another time and other things to do.”
Raila bows out
Raila Odinga’s journey in the AUC chairmanship race came to an end on Saturday, February 15, 2025, after six rounds of intense voting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
He initially led in the first round with 20 votes, followed closely by Djibouti’s candidate Mahmoud Ali Youssouf with 18 votes and Madagascar’s Richard Randriamandrato with 10 votes.
As the rounds progressed, Raila remained competitive, securing 22 votes in the second round and 20 in the third.
However, Mahmoud gained momentum, taking the lead in the fourth round with 25 votes against Raila’s 21. By the fifth and sixth rounds, Mahmoud had widened the gap, prompting Raila to withdraw from the contest.
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Francis Muli
Francis Muli is a passionate digital journalist with over seven years of experience in crafting compelling stories across various platforms. His major focus is in business, politics and current affairs. He brings a keen eye for detail and a commitment to uncovering the truth. He has contributed to leading publications across the country. When not chasing stories, you can find Muli exploring new technologies, attending local events, or reading fiction. Connect with Francis Muli on X @FMuliKE and Facebook (Francis Muli) to follow his latest stories and insights.
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