Kenya spent a staggering Sh524 million to support former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s unsuccessful bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship, according to data submitted to Parliament..
The Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations Committee laid out the details, showing that the funds were used for travel, accommodation, airport transfers, and a widespread publicity campaign across the continent. The government had hoped to rally enough support to propel Raila to victory in the February 15 elections in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
But despite the heavy financial backing, Raila lost to Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahamoud Youssouf, bowing out in the sixth round after his rival secured the required two-thirds majority.
Presenting the expenditure before the Liaison Committee, which is reviewing the second supplementary budget for the 2024/25 financial year, committee chairperson Nelson Koech defended the spending.
“The committee approves the spending of Sh523.84 million for the State Department for Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Affairs, incurred in accordance with Article 223 of the Constitution,” Koech, who is also the Belgut MP, told the committee during a session in Nairobi on Monday.
Article 223 allows the government to withdraw money from the Consolidated Fund Services (CFS) for urgent needs without prior Cabinet approval. However, such spending must be approved by Parliament within two months.
This is not the first time Kenya has invested heavily in an AU campaign. In 2017, the country spent Sh438 million to support then-Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed’s bid for the same position. She, too, lost.