It has now emerged that the campaign for former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to become the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson cost Kenyan taxpayers a total of Ksh 524 million.
This is according to new data from Parliament as reported by Taifa Leo. The government spent the money on lobbying, travel, and other expenses to support Raila’s bid.
The campaign aimed to get support from African countries so that Raila could win the top AU position.
However, despite the large amount of money used, Raila lost the election. The position went to Djibouti’s candidate, who received more votes from African Union member states. This outcome has led to widespread debate on whether it was necessary for the government to invest such a huge amount of public funds in the campaign.
The loss has raised concerns over whether there was a clear strategy in place or if the government simply wasted money on an effort that was doomed from the start.
Many Kenyans are now questioning the justification behind spending over half a billion shillings on an individual’s political ambition instead of using the money for pressing national issues.
The country is currently struggling with high levels of debt, economic challenges, and a lack of funding for essential services such as healthcare and education.
Some critics argue that the funds could have been used to improve hospitals, pay teachers, or reduce the cost of living, which has been a major concern for many citizens.
On the other hand, those who supported the campaign believe that if Raila had won, Kenya would have gained influence in African politics.
They argue that having a Kenyan at the helm of the AU Commission would have helped push for policies that favor the country’s interests. Some government officials defend the expenditure by saying that diplomatic campaigns of this nature require substantial funding to secure endorsements and build alliances.
They insist that Kenya needed to show commitment to Raila’s bid to demonstrate unity and leadership on the continental stage.
Despite these arguments, the failure of the campaign has left a bitter taste among taxpayers who feel that their money was wasted with nothing to show for it.
The government has not provided a detailed breakdown of how the money was spent, raising suspicions of possible mismanagement or misuse of public funds.
There are growing calls for accountability, with some demanding that those responsible for authorizing the spending should explain why such a large amount was used for a campaign that had no guaranteed outcome.
The debate over the Ksh 524 million expenditure highlights a bigger issue in Kenya’s governance how public funds are allocated and whether the government prioritizes the needs of its people.
With many struggling to afford basic necessities, it remains to be seen whether lessons will be learned from this costly loss or if similar spending will continue in the future without clear benefits to the nation.
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