Millions Spent on Raila’s AU Chairmanship Campaign, Report Shows
A new government report has revealed that more than half a billion Kenyan shillings were earmarked to support ODM party leader Raila Odinga’s campaign to become the chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC).
The details were disclosed by Controller of Budget (CoB) Margaret Nyakang’o in the National Government Budget Implementation Review Report for the 2024/2025 financial year.
According to the report, the State Department for Foreign Affairs received a total allocation of Ksh523.8 million from the National Treasury in November 2024. These funds were meant to support Raila’s high-profile bid for the AUC chairmanship.
However, of the total amount approved by the Treasury, only Ksh216.2 million was eventually cleared for use by CoB Nyakang’o in February 2025.
The time gap between the allocation and the approval highlights the separate financial responsibilities held by the National Treasury and the Controller of Budget in managing public finances.
The Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury, currently John Mbadi, oversees the general management of government finances, including giving the green light for budget allocations.
But under the Constitution, the CoB holds a distinct and critical role: approving the actual release of funds from the Consolidated Fund.
This means that even after CS Mbadi gives financial clearance, it is Nyakang’o who must authorize the final disbursement of public money.
In this case, although the Treasury approved Ksh523,843,745 for the campaign, the amount formally requested by the Foreign Affairs Department and approved by the CoB was Ksh216,275,405. This is the amount that was officially released from public funds.
Despite the massive government support, Raila Odinga lost the AUC election to Djibouti’s Foreign Minister, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf. Raila had earlier expressed strong optimism, believing he was poised for a decisive win.
Kenya had mounted an intensive lobbying effort, reportedly sending a large delegation to the AUC summit held in Addis Ababa in January 2025. This team included President William Ruto and over 100 Members of Parliament, all backing Raila’s candidacy.
Following the failed bid, questions were raised about how much the campaign had cost taxpayers. Juja MP George Koimburi sparked controversy by alleging that the government had used a staggering Ksh13 billion in public funds for Raila’s campaign.
However, Raila Odinga came out to publicly dispute these figures. Speaking on the matter for the first time after his defeat, Raila denied that such a vast amount had been spent on his behalf.
“I heard someone claim Ksh13 billion was used on my campaign. I don’t know which planet they live on or whether they understand what a billion shillings really is,” he remarked.
Raila, who served as Kenya’s Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013, further explained that the government only helped facilitate transportation for him during his tour of various African countries as part of the campaign. He insisted that beyond the travel support, claims of massive expenditure were exaggerated and untrue.
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