President William Ruto has officially responded to Raila Odinga’s unsuccessful bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson position, thanking African leaders for considering Kenya’s candidate.
“While the election didn’t go our way, I’m deeply grateful to Africa’s leadership for giving Raila Odinga the chance to share his vision and passion for transforming our continent,” President Ruto said in a statement released yesterday.
The President congratulated Mahmoud Youssouf and Selma Haddadi, who were elected as the new Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the AUC. He promised Kenya’s full support as they lead the Commission forward.
“You have earned the trust of the AU Assembly, and Kenya stands ready to support your efforts to take the African Union Commission to new heights,” Ruto stated.
Looking beyond the election results, President Ruto emphasized that the contest was about Africa’s future, not individual candidates or countries.
“This election was never about specific people or nations – it was about where Africa is heading. I believe our future remains bright, and we will continue working together for a united, prosperous Africa that has a strong voice in global affairs,” he said.
The election in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia was highly competitive, requiring seven rounds of voting. While Odinga initially led in the first two rounds with 20 and 22 votes, Djibouti’s Youssouf gained momentum and eventually secured the necessary 33 votes in the final round.
Youssouf will serve a four-year term, taking over from Moussa Faki of Chad, who has held the position since 2017.
The election results have sparked mixed reactions across Kenya, with some of Raila’s allies expressing disappointment while others have called for unity and looking forward.
Meanwhile, Odinga himself has spoken publicly about the election, saying he believes many of his friends supported his candidacy.
