Raila: Ruto did everything to support my AUC bid, don’t blame him for my loss

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga said President William Ruto was not to blame for his loss of the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship seat to Djibouti candidate Mahamoud Ali Youssouf.

Addressing guests at a dinner in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Saturday after the elections, Odinga absolved Ruto of his flop, saying the President did “everything possible” to support his campaign for the continental role.

“There will be a lot of blame games: I did not do much as expected; I am tired and too old; Ruto was not genuine in supporting me… Ruto did everything possible for this campaign. He gave me all the logistical support I needed and made my appointments to meet all leaders on the continent,” Odinga said.

“I walk with my head tall,” he added.

Ruto himself has said he was “disappointed” by the election outcome, telling guests at the Saturday dinner that Odinga “was the best candidate.”

“I regret that Africa missed an opportunity to be served by the finest of our continent,” he said, adding that Odinga made him “proud” nonetheless.

Among those who have blamed President Ruto for Odinga’s loss is Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who on Sunday said Odinga’s prospects in the race were undermined by the President’s efforts to mediate the crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) a few weeks ago.

“The 16-member SADC (Southern African Development Community) bloc had issues with William Ruto’s leadership. This caused this terrible loss to the country,” Musyoka, who has been downplaying Ruto’s efforts in the DRC peace talks, told a church service in Kitui County.

“Raila’s image was soiled by this loss. SADC supported Djibouti’s candidate because of their problem with Ruto.”

Ahead of Saturday’s AUC chairmanship elections in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, SADC urged its members to back Madagascar’s Richard Randriamandrato in the polls, threatening Odinga’s bid.

But Djibouti’s Youssouf eventually won the seat after garnering 33 votes, constituting the required two-thirds. He now replaces Moussa Faki of Chad who has held the position for eight years.