Former LSK President Nelson Havi believes that the pain of Raila Odinga's loss in the African Union Commission chairmanship race will be felt more by President William Ruto.
In a tweet shortly after the results were announced, Havi stated that the loss would be a major setback for Ruto.
“The loss shall be felt most by President William Ruto. It is a bad sign for things to come in the future,” he said.
Raila was eliminated from the race Saturday after he trailed Djibouti's Mahamoud Ali Youssouf in the fifth and sixth rounds of voting.
Madagascar's Richard Randriamandrato was eliminated earlier after trailing in the first, second, third and fourth rounds, leaving Raila and Youssof to face off.
Youssouf was declared winner after garnering the requisite 33 votes in the 7th round of voting, which he contested alone.
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.
The team actively engaged regional blocs, securing support from the East African Community, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and the Economic Community of West African States, among others.
Meanwhile, the former Prime Minister embarked on an intense diplomatic tour, visiting 29 countries in a bid to shore up support.
On Friday, Ruto held meetings with presidents and heads of states on the sidelines of the 38th ordinary session of the AU summit in Addis Ababa, which culminated in the AUC election.
Ruto also met the outgoing chair in last-minute campaigns for Raila.
He also held discussions with presidents Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (Equatorial Guinea), Bassirou Diomaye Faye (Senegal), João Lourenço (Angola), Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and Barbados Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley.
Support also came from 100 Kenyan MPs, top government officials and governors from across the political spectrum who traveled to Addis Ababa in solidarity with Raila.
