Who failed Raila? Blame-game galore over Kenya’s loss in AUC contest

Fingers started pointing soon as Odinga's chances in the voting exercise turned dim in the 3rd round and were more pronounced when his defeat was stark in the 7th round.

Leaders immediately started bundling in two quotas; one lashing out at Kenya's leadership led by President William Ruto and the other lauding Odinga's grit in the tough contest.

Back home in Kisumu County, where residents had thronged the streets for a watch party of the voting proceedings, chants changed from praise songs for Ruto and Raila to "Ruto must go".

The circumstances even forced Odinga to absolve Ruto of his flop, at a dinner in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on February 15, 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.

Meanwhile, Saboti Member of Parliament Caleb Amisi shifted blame to Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and the National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director General Noordin Haji for Odinga's loss.

Amisi took to his X account, holding that the two should resign for what he termed misleading the former Kenyan Prime Minister in failing to provide intelligence on the odds that were stacked against him in the tight race.

"The purpose of NIS is to provide intelligence useful to help the country safeguard her sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as achieve her objectives," he wrote.

"In this AUC campaign, Noordin Haji failed miserably. By now Musalia and Haji should have resigned for lying and subjecting Baba to a loss that he doesn't deserve!" 

Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka also blamed President Ruto for Odinga's defeat, saying it dented Kenya’s image.

Speaking at a church service in Kitui County on Sunday, Musyoka said Odinga’s prospects in the continental role's race were undermined by Ruto’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 is what caused this terrible loss to the country,” Musyoka said. 

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

Joining the bandwagon, Migori Senator Eddy Oketch opined the defeat "points out that we don't have a strong domestic and foreign policy. Parliament must start embracing competency and choose the best people to lead our country forward."

Law professor and activist Patrick Lumumba has also stated that Kenya's campaign strategy weakened its diplomatic sanctity as Odinga's camp made haste to assume victory after meeting every head of state.

“The Raila camp and Kenya by extension assumed that when the presidents accorded him the courtesy of meeting them, that amounted to support. This was courtesy and it's indicative of how as a country our diplomacy is weak,” he told Spice FM.

Lumumba also faulted President Ruto for approaching France President Emmanuel Macron after the Eastern DRC conflict escalated in late January 2025.

“Who wants to engage with Macron on African issues?” he posed adding that Ruto should have instead approached South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa.

Meanwhile, Energy and Petroleum CS Opiyo Wandayi and Interior PS Dr Raymond Omollo have told off politicians blaming President Ruto for Odinga's AUC election loss.

Wandayi stated it's unfortunate that politicians are blaming President Ruto for the loss, saying the election was free and fair and therefore it is unnecessary to point out fingers at the head of state.

Speaking at Siburi secondary school in Karachuonyo constituency, CS Wandayi and Omollo said in a contest there must be a winner and a loser and anybody who blames Ruto and Raila is creating an unfortunate division in the country.

Odinga conceded defeat shortly after he lost to Djibouti’s candidate Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, congratulating his opponent for clinching the seat and wished him well during his term.

He underscored the role of fairness in the conduct of the elections, intimating that the results should serve to strengthen democracy in Africa.

Mahamoud won the AUC Chair seat after garnering 33 votes, constituting the required two-thirds, in round 7, and is now set to replace the outgoing Moussa Faki of Chad who has held the position for 8 years.

Leaders have floated proposals for onboarding Mr. Odinga to Ruto's government as Belgut Member of Parliament Nelson Koech believes the political premier could be awarded a Prime Minister seat.

His counterpart Nyeri Town MP Duncan Mathenge however dismissed the proposal noting that it is "not a reality today because we have to change the constitution".

He holds the State should utilize Odinga's expertise and Ruto's government should not wait for the 2027 General Election to uptake the opposition leader's political position.