Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, a prominent member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, has pointed fingers at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Raila Odinga’s failure to secure the position of African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson.
In an interview with Citizen TV on Monday, February 17, Onyonka discussed the factors that he believes contributed to the loss, particularly the absence of a skilled and knowledgeable team around Raila Odinga during the campaign.
Onyonka emphasized that the lack of professional experts in the campaign was a significant oversight.
He argued that for Raila and President William Ruto to win the seat, they should have had a team of trained diplomats and seasoned experts from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, especially those with experience in international relations.
According to Onyonka, instead of involving a broad mix of political colleagues in the government, they should have focused on utilizing experienced ambassadors, particularly those from the countries that would be voting.
He suggested bringing these ambassadors to Addis Ababa, where the elections were held, to form a focused and strategic plan.
Furthermore, Onyonka highlighted the Ministry’s lack of professionalism and geopolitical awareness, which he believes hurt Odinga’s campaign.
He pointed out that Odinga’s campaign strategy was too open and public, which he felt might have created unnecessary tensions with other African countries.
“When I saw the former Prime Minister flying all over Africa, meeting with various heads of state and their entourages, I realized that other countries don’t operate like that,” Onyonka said.
He stressed that such diplomatic missions should have been handled with more discretion and quiet diplomacy, especially in areas where countries may have competing interests.
The Senator’s remarks followed Raila Odinga’s defeat in the election for the AUC chairperson, where he lost to Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, who was elected as the seventh AUC chairperson since the organization was formed in 2002.
Prior to the election, Raila’s campaign had claimed support from at least 21 countries. He initially took the lead with 20 votes but was eventually eliminated in the sixth round after making it through several stages.
After the election, Raila Odinga accepted the defeat graciously, expressing that he had no major regrets.
He congratulated Mahmoud Ali Youssouf on his victory and wished him success in his new role. Raila also mentioned that he would be returning home but remained open to serving the continent in another capacity if called upon.
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