Kenya fronted former Prime Minister Raila Odinga for the position; however, he lost the AUC seat bid in an election held on Saturday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf won the race after securing 33 votes in the seventh round of voting
Raila faced Youssouf and Madagascar’s former Foreign Affairs Minister Richard Randriamandrato in the elections.
In a statement from the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, CS Musalia Mudavadi said the country is confident under the new leadership the Union will rise to the demanding calling of steering the continent towards attaining the ambitious Agenda 2063.
“The Government of Kenya acknowledges the outcome of the African Union Commission (AUC) elections during the just concluded 38th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and extends its congratulations to Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, the new Chair of the African Union Commission, his Deputy Chairperson, Ambassador Selma Malika Hadadi, and all the Commissioners,” he said on Monday.
He lauded the former Prime Minister, saying his campaign inspired hope and passion across the continent.
Mudavadi said the candidate represented Kenya with great respect, dignity and resilience at every stage of the campaign, demonstrating true statesmanship.
“Kenya expresses its gratitude to all member states of the African Union that supported Raila,” he added.
On Sunday, Raila thanked President William Ruto for his unwavering support adding that the outcome of the results did not matter much as Kenya had won either way.
"We accept the results; I have congratulated my competitor...so ignore a lot of blame games that are going to be played."
Raila noted that he will hold his head high, adding that there will be another chance.
The former Prime Minister thanked the Kenyan leaders who traveled to Addis Ababa in solidarity with him.
The AUC chairperson is elected by member states, excluding countries under military rule.
A candidate must garner a two-thirds majority of the votes cast. An AUC chairperson is elected by the Assembly for a four-year term, renewable once.
The seat is held on a rotational basis among the five regions, and this time, the Eastern region was eligible to present a candidate while the Northern region presented a deputy chairperson.
With 49 heads of state partaking in the vote, the winner in Saturday’s election needed two-thirds of the total votes, totaling 33.
The election was held during the 38th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
