Raila Returns Under Radar: Races to Beat African Union Deadline as Questions Arise on Amount Ruto Will Spend for His Campaign
Critics have raised concerns about the projected expenditure by the government to support Raila Odinga’s campaign for the Chairmanship of the African Union Commission under the Azimio la Umoja coalition.
Raila, who arrived back in the country at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Thursday evening, is anticipated to step up his campaign efforts in the upcoming months to garner support from leaders across the continent.
President William Ruto has expressed his endorsement of Raila’s decision, stating that his administration would provide the required resources for it.
Although the specific budget allocated by Ruto’s administration for Raila’s campaign remains undisclosed, observers are pondering whether the government will spare no expense to secure Raila’s triumph.
The initiative aims to invest in essential sectors like diplomacy, promotional efforts, and travel.
During the 2017 parliamentary budget, ex-President Uhuru Kenyatta allocated more than Ksh437.7 million towards the campaign led by former Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed to remove incumbent Moussa Faki from his position. This surpassed the initial budget of Ksh385 million designated for the purpose.
Nevertheless, despite these endeavors, Amina was defeated by Faki following seven rounds of voting. Reports from that period suggested that a sudden shift in votes by Uganda, Djibouti, and Burundi resulted in Kenya’s loss.
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In Raila’s situation, he needs to obtain the support of two-thirds of the 55 member states to achieve victory, indicating the former prime minister’s challenge of persuading the regional leaders.
During the last ten days, Raila undertook a journey across West Africa, Dubai, and the United Kingdom as outlined in his plans. Moreover, expectations suggest that his schedule will become even more hectic in April and May.
In April, Raila plans to officially present his candidacy by April 15, 2024. After this, he is said to have arrangements to visit Djibouti and Ethiopia to strengthen his backing within the East African region.
In May, the ex-prime minister intends to travel to Zimbabwe, Malawi, Angola, Zambia, and Botswana. Additionally, he has scheduled a trip to South Africa after its general elections on May 9, 2024.
However, President Ruto plans to travel to Ghana and Zimbabwe to support Raila’s campaign efforts. Additionally, a secretariat will be set up to enhance the campaign’s momentum.
The AU elections are slated to be held in January 2025.
Raila Returns Under Radar: Races to Beat African Union Deadline as Questions Arise on Amount Ruto Will Spend for His Campaign
