Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka speaks at the Full Gospel Churches of Kenya in Mwingi Township, Kitui County on February 16, 2025. He accused President Ruto of causing Raila Odinga's defeat in the race for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka now says President William Ruto is to blame for Raila Odinga’s loss in the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship race.
At the same time, Mr Musyoka has called for the resignation of Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi who was the face of a delegation of Kenyan dignitaries who travelled to Addis Ababa ahead of the AUC elections on Saturday.
Addressing congregants at the Full Gospel Churches of Kenya at Mwingi Township in Kitui County after Sunday service, Mr Musyoka termed Mr Odinga’s loss to Mahmoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti an indictment on President Ruto who was Mr Odinga's main campaigner and an embarrassment to the country.
“Let us agree that it is a blow to the image of Kenya. We have suffered an image problem. As a former prime minister, Mr Odinga was more qualified than his challengers who have been foreign ministers. I agree with Mwingi Central MP Gideon Mulyungi that Mr Odinga is not one who has lost in Addis Ababa. It is William Samoei Ruto. He has dented the image of the country,” he said as he outlined two factors he said he believed had worked against Kenya.
According to the former vice president, Dr Ruto’s handling of the ongoing crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as well as his handling of the anti-government protests, which rocked the country last year, had worked against Mr Odinga in the AUC race.
He said he had successfully lobbied Botswana President Duma Boko and his Zambia counterpart Hakainde Hichelima to vote for Mr Odinga.
“Members of the SADC economic bloc were ready to vote for Mr Odinga. However, things changed when the crisis in the DRC worsened. South Africa and Tanzania lost many troops in the ongoing DRC crisis. The stench caused by President Ruto interfering with DRC internal affairs when he initiated a peace process known as the River Congo Initiative in Nairobi, which was attended by M23 leaders, is what has spoiled the party for Mr Odinga,” he said.
On December 15, 2023, a diplomatic row erupted between Nairobi and Kinshasa after former DRC election commission chief Corneille Nangaa, DRC politicians and groups such as the M23 rebels announced the launch of Congo River Alliance in Nairobi.
Days later, Kenya “strongly disassociated” itself from a Congolese opposition figure, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs saying it would investigate the political-military alliance after the DRC recalled its ambassador in protest.
“DRC President Felix Tshisekedi, who is a friend of Mr Odinga, must have been at pains as he wondered why President Ruto had interfered with DRC internal affairs when his country had even joined the East Africa Community. The 16 members of the SADC economic bloc had issues with the leadership of President Ruto. That is why the entire SADC bloc voted for the Djibouti candidate after Madagascar withdrew its candidate after a couple of voting rounds. This is what has caused this terrible loss to the county and soiled Mr Odinga’s name,” Mr Musyoka said.
The Wiper leader also cited the online campaigns and lobbying that Kenyan youth and Kenyans on Twitter carried out against Mr Odinga’s bid.
“We should also remember the Gen Z youth had the ability to lobby and they lobbied directly to the African presidents. Mr Odinga was the Republic of Kenya’s candidate. The presidents saw the Kenyan flag and they realised it was the same flag Kenyan children carried when they were killed as they validly demonstrated against the government. They would ask ‘isn’t this the president who killed children and has presented a candidate here?’ They would say they have no business with a country which abducts and kills children,” he said.
But on Saturday, Mr Odinga defended President Ruto’s role in the whole period saying, “I made the decision myself and announced that I wanted to run for this position myself. Dr Ruto only came and said he was going to support me when I really needed it."
“I want to say that President Ruto did everything possible. He gave me all the logistical support that we needed. That enabled me to travel around the length and breadth of the continent. And [he] made appointments for me to meet all the leaders around the continent,” Mr Odinga said.
Despite the confidence he had in winning, Mr Odinga noted that “unforeseen factors”, which he said he would disclose at a later date, influenced the results.
"We were sure we would win. But as I say, other factors have come into play,” he said.
Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua led a team of Mr Musyoka’s allies in calling on Mr Odinga to either support Mr Musyoka’s 2027 presidential ambition or quit active politics.
Mr Wambua, and MPs Makali Mulu (Kitui Central), Paul Nzengu (Mwingi North) and Mr Mulyungi said Mr Musyoka was not ready to deputize anyone in the 2027 presidential race.
“Once he returns home, Mr Odinga should not attempt to dislodge Mr Musyoka from the opposition. He should either rally behind his 2027 presidential bid or head to Bondo,” Kitui Central MP Makali Mulu said.
