Exclusive: Kioni Unveils Uhuru’s Verdict on Raila’s AU Ambition
On Tuesday, February 20, Jeremiah Kioni, the Secretary-General of the Jubilee party, responded to rumors suggesting that former President Uhuru Kenyatta might contend against Raila Odinga, the leader of the Azimio party, for the position of African Union Commission chairman.
During a media interview, Kioni dismissed the reports and mentioned that Uhuru would actively support the opposition leader as one of the main campaigners to ensure his victory in the election.
The ex-Ndaragwa Member of Parliament conveyed the assurance that Uhuru would leverage his connections throughout the continent to enhance Raila’s candidacy.
“He (Raila) has to campaign and it has a lot to do with who else is on the ballot. But Raila has a good rapport with many Heads of State and has people who will campaign for him including our former president Uhuru who has very good connections across the continent,” Kioni stated.
To clinch the position, Raila must garner support from the 55 member states as he endeavors to replace Moussa Faki, whose term concludes this year.
Uhuru’s impact: Kioni underscored that despite stepping back from active political involvement, Uhuru still holds significant sway in the region, and his endorsement could strongly influence votes in favor of Raila.
On February 18, 2024, some leaders from the Mt Kenya region expressed concern about the government’s support for Raila’s candidacy for the AU Commission chairperson instead of Uhuru’s. These leaders contended that Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua should endorse Uhuru, given that they both come from the same region.
“I have heard that the country is supporting Raila Odinga and then I asked myself you want us to choose this person (Raila) when our Uhuru is here?” Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang’wa remarked in Nyeri County on Saturday, February 17.
Uhuru, during his presence at the memorial services for the late police chief King’ori Mwangi and the spouse of politician Amos Kimunya on Saturday, February 17, shifted away from political matters and solely offered condolences to the grieving families.
Moreover, members of the Azimio coalition politicians suggested that the government’s endorsement of Raila’s candidacy is a strategy to eliminate him from contention in the 2027 Presidential Election.
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“The AU Chairmanship campaign might be structured to fail to embarrass Baba Raila Odinga. I don’t trust Kenya Kwanza on this. It might be Kenya Kwanza fishing for new insults to throw Baba’s way with a campaign they strategically want to fail,” Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai noted.
Ruto’s criticism of Uhuru: The Secretary General of Jubilee also criticized President William Ruto’s government for failing to consult Uhuru on matters of development, choosing instead to hold him responsible for the challenges facing the country.
“Being a Kenyan, Uhuru has opportunities to interact with the public and he can tell when things are bad because Kenyans are complaining. Him being there before, he can quickly tell what they’re doing wrong. But since they don’t want to consult, they’d rather cast blame, that’s why he stated that we should not focus on the rearview mirror,” Kioni told TV 47.
“Kenyans are now very keen to see what former President Uhuru did, how he did it, and where the country was going. If you look at the current situation, it’s as if we hit a reverse gear.”
Overhauling Jubilee: The ex-lawmaker emphasized that discussions are in progress to revitalize the Jubilee party in preparation for the upcoming 2027 General Election.
“Yes, we will create Jubilee mashinani to cater to those at the grassroots level, especially Mt Kenya. I want to do everything possible to make sure Jubilee is available for the youth. We want young people who can articulate issues without insulting people.”
He verified that a gathering is scheduled for Saturday, February 24, to address the alleged efforts by Nominated MP Sabina Chege and her East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) counterpart Kanini Kega to seize control of the party.
“They have continued lying to the members of the county assembly (Sabina Chege and Kanini Kega) and trying to influence them towards the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) but we will have an MCA meeting on Saturday to debunk those lies.”
Exclusive: Kioni Unveils Uhuru’s Verdict on Raila’s AU Ambition