Raila Odinga Praises President Ruto, Calls for End to Blame Game

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has come out in support of President William Ruto after failing to secure the African Union (AU) Chairmanship.

Speaking at a dinner hosted in his honor in Addis Ababa on Saturday, February 15, 2025, Odinga emphasized unity and dismissed any notion of attributing blame for the electoral defeat.

“We accept the results and I have congratulated my competitor who has won and I wish him all the best. There will be no blame games that will be played,” Odinga declared. He stressed that his decision to run for the AU chairmanship was personal, with the Kenyan government offering substantial support.

“I made the decision (to run for AU chairmanship) myself. I want to say that Ruto did everything possible. He gave me all the logistical support that I needed to travel the length and breadth of the continent,” he added, acknowledging the efforts of President Ruto.

Pressure

The voting for the AU chairmanship was intense, stretching over six rounds. Initially, Odinga led with 20 votes in the first round, outpacing Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and Madagascar’s Richard Randriamandrato.

However, as the voting progressed, Youssouf gained ground, eventually overtaking Odinga, who secured 21 votes in the fourth round compared to Youssouf’s 25. By the fifth and sixth rounds, the gap had widened enough for Odinga to decide to withdraw from the race.

Unforeseen factors

Odinga and Ruto share a light moment at the AU Summit before the heads of states embarked on biting for the AUC Chairman.

Odinga’s gracious exit from the competition was marked by his acknowledgment of unforeseen factors that influenced the outcome. “We were sure to win. However, other factors came to play, and those factors are going to be known,” he remarked, hinting at complexities beyond mere vote counts.

The former Prime Minister also expressed optimism about future opportunities, stating, “There will be another time and other things to do,” suggesting his political journey might take new directions.

Ruto’s support.

Over the past year, Ruto actively lobbied for Raila, engaging African leaders and securing endorsements on the sidelines of key continental and regional meetings.

Following Raila’s endorsement, the Kenya Kwanza administration assembled robust and technically skilled campaign team.

The secretariat, led by Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei, included diplomatic heavyweights such as former US Ambassador Elkanah Odembo, Intergovernmental Authority on Development executive secretary Mahboub Maalim and Ambassador.

Other key figures included legal expert Prof Makau Mutua, former Nyeri Deputy Governor Caroline Karugu and Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo.

This moment of political camaraderie between Odinga and Ruto, long seen as political adversaries within Kenya, underscores a potential shift in political discourse, advocating for collaboration over confrontation. It also highlights the intricate dynamics of African politics where personal and national interests often intertwine on the continental stage.

As Kenya looks forward, the focus now shifts to how this new political alignment might influence domestic policies and the country’s role in African Union initiatives.