Revealed: Ruto’s government spent over half a billion shillings on Raila’s failed AUC bid

Over half a billion shillings was spent by the government on Raila Odinga’s failed bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship, fresh submissions to Parliament have revealed.

The Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee on Monday disclosed that the National Treasury approved the expenditure of Sh523.85 million, under Article 223 of the Constitution.

Committee chairman Nelson Koech informed the National Assembly’s Liaison Committee that the funds were used for chartering aircraft, hotel accommodation, airport transfers and publicity campaigns.

“The committee approves spending of Sh523.84 million for the State Department for Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Affairs that was incurred in accordance with Article 223 of the Constitution,” Koech told the committee chaired by Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss.

The article permits the government to withdraw funds from the Consolidated Fund Services (CFS) without prior parliamentary approval, but only up to 10 per cent of the approved budget for that financial year. Any such expenditure must be regularised by Parliament within two months.

The Liaison Committee is currently reviewing recommendations from departmental committees on the Sh199 billion Supplementary Budget II for 2024/25. The scrutiny is taking place at the Trade Mark Hotel, as the Budget and Appropriations Committee (BAC) is yet to be constituted.

Koech confirmed that the money was allocated to ‘international candidatures activity,’ specifically funding Kenya’s campaign for Odinga’s AUC chairmanship.

“The funds were utilised for Africa Union Chairmanship campaigns (chartered aircraft hire, hotel accommodation, airport transfers, and publicity and awareness creation),” Koech said in his submissions.

The revelations provide clarity amid speculation about the total expenditure on Odinga’s campaign. Juja MP George Koimbori had previously claimed that the government spent Sh13 billion on the campaign, a figure denied by both the government and Odinga.

Koimbori was arrested shortly after making the claim but was charged with forgery of academic documents rather than his statements regarding the AUC campaign spending.

Odinga lost to Djibouti’s long-serving Foreign Affairs Minister Mohamoud Ali Youssouf, who secured the required 33 votes. The former prime minister exited the race after the sixth round of voting, where Youssouf garnered 26 votes against Odinga’s 22. Madagascar’s former Foreign Minister Richard James Randriamandrato was eliminated in the earlier rounds.

Despite his loss, Odinga maintained that unforeseen factors played a role in the election’s outcome.

“We were sure we would win. But as I say, other factors have come into play,” he said.

Odinga’s bid was fully supported by President William Ruto and government machinery, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a campaign secretariat.

Other Topics To Read

• National
• raila AUC
• raila AUC chair
• raila auc bid
• Revealed: Ruto’s government spent over half a billion shillings on Raila’s failed AUC bid
• Headlines

Following the AUC race, Odinga and President Ruto signed a memorandum of understanding formalising a working arrangement between the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition and ODM. The agreement, signed on March 7 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, sets the framework for their political cooperation.

The 10-point plan in the agreement includes full implementation of the National Dialogue Committee (Nadco) report, equitable budgetary allocations, strengthening devolution, economic empowerment for youth and upholding integrity in leadership.

It also focuses on safeguarding the right to peaceful assembly, compensating victims of past rights violations, auditing national debt, fighting corruption, curbing wasteful spending, and protecting the country’s sovereignty. Additionally, it seeks to end abductions, ensure adherence to the rule of law, and uphold press freedom.