Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s loss in the race for the African Union Commission chair has led to discussions about Kenya’s potential exit from the AU. Prominent politicians, including Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma and Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi, are proposing to reconsider Kenya’s financial commitments. The comments reflect growing dissatisfaction with the AU’s structure and its responsiveness to member states’ interests.
The recent electoral defeat of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in the race for the chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) has ignited discussions regarding Kenya’s potential withdrawal from the African Union (AU). The election, held during the 38th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, resulted in Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Mahmoud Youssouf, winning the position after seven rounds of voting, securing 33 votes from the 49 member states.
Odinga’s candidacy faced significant opposition, primarily from Youssouf and Madagascar’s former Foreign Affairs Minister, Richard Randriamandrato. The outcome has provoked substantial reactions from Odinga’s supporters, with Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma emerging as a key advocate for Kenya’s exit from the AU, along with reconsideration of the nation’s involvement in the East African Community (EAC).
Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi has voiced similar sentiments, calling for Kenya to reassess its financial contributions to the AU, proposing a reduction or even a complete withdrawal. This growing discontent highlights ongoing concerns regarding the AU’s organizational structure and its capacity to adequately address member states’ concerns and interests.
Senator Ledama Olekina of Narok, who acknowledged President William Ruto’s support for Odinga, suggested a reconsideration of the AU’s governance structure, jokingly asking, “Why not divide the African Union into two?” The chairperson election process for the AUC, which rotates among the AU’s five regions, is exclusively determined by member states and deliberately excludes military governance.
The recent electoral defeat of Raila Odinga has raised significant concerns among Kenyan politicians regarding the nation’s participation in the African Union. Key figures are advocating for a reevaluation of both Kenya’s contributions and its potential exit from the AU, signaling deepening dissatisfaction with the organization’s structure and effectiveness in representing member states’ interests. The election outcomes have sparked a wider debate about the future of Kenya’s role within regional organizations.
Original Source: mwakilishi.com
