DID RUTO RUIN KENYA’S BID FOR AU‘S TOP JOB?

In a twist worthy of a political drama, Kenya's aspirations for the African Union chairmanship have once again come unstuck. Nairobi’s candidate - former prime minister Raila Odinga - was left high and dry as Djibouti's foreign minister, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, won the most votes and bagged the coveted role.

Odinga had strong backing from William Ruto - and many think that’s why, despite being a favourite, he ultimately lost. The Kenyan president‘s policies on the continent have long been rubbing fellow African nations up the wrong way. Odinga’s defeat is possibly a relief to Kenya’s opposition, though - as they’d rather have him at home leading them and keeping government accountable.

Sources: 

https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/president-ruto-holds-talks-with-rsf-leader-hemedti-in-nairobi-4481676 https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/congo-recalls-envoys-kenya-tanzania-over-alliance-launch-nairobi-2023-12-16/ 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-67758635 

https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/sahrawi-gaffe-hands-kenya-ruto-first-diplomatic-dilemma-3950592

https://kenyanforeignpolicy.com/nairobi-tight-lipped-on-railas-auc-campaign-budget/ 

https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2023-10-08-kenya-stands-with-israel-ruto-says-amidst-war-with-palestine

https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20250216/he-mahmoud-ali-youssouf-he-ambassador-selma-malika-haddadi-and-4

https://en.sputniknews.africa/20240225/what-is-frances-role-in-eastern-drc-conflict--tensions-with-rwanda-1065237633.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hd3LeNdDm_E