Gathoni Wamuchomba, the Member of Parliament for Guthunguri, has come forward with an analysis of Raila Odinga’s loss in the recent African Union Commission (AUC) election, attributing the defeat to several key factors related to strategy and approach.
In a candid statement, Wamuchomba revealed that one of the main reasons behind Odinga's failure to clinch the AUC chairmanship was the aggressive nature of his campaign, which lacked the necessary diplomatic finesse for such a high-stakes election. She pointed to the overwhelming display of political support from Kenyan MPs, senators, and governors gathered in hotels in Addis Ababa, where they were seen singing and chanting “Bado Mapambano.” According to Wamuchomba, this approach may have inadvertently intimidated key diplomats and African leaders crucial to the voting process.
"I saw this coming when I saw the over 100 MPs, senators, and governors clumped in hotels to sing and dance ‘Bado Mapambano’ in Addis," Wamuchomba explained. "This kind of behavior, while passionate, intimidated diplomats. The election required soft diplomacy, not loud displays. We should have engaged with our African counterparts through measured and thoughtful diplomacy."
The MP also argued that the loss was a direct reflection of a "vote of no confidence" from the African heads of state in President William Ruto’s leadership, despite the full backing from the government.
"This loss is a clear vote of no confidence by the African Presidents to President Ruto," Wamuchomba remarked. "Even with the full support of the government system, Raila Odinga's defeat shows that strategy and diplomacy matter more than just backing from home."
Wamuchomba further questioned how Odinga, despite having the backing of the Kenyan government and its full support, could still lose twice in high-profile international elections. She suggested that there were deeper issues at play, beyond just a single campaign, indicating that the loss could signal deeper lessons for Kenyan politics.
"It’s a long con," she said cryptically, hinting at the possibility that this defeat might not be the last of its kind for Odinga and that his political journey could still take unexpected turns.
Her revelations offer a sobering analysis of Odinga’s campaign and its shortcomings, suggesting that the nature of Kenya’s involvement in continental diplomacy needs to be approached with more tact and diplomacy moving forward.
0 $type={facebook}:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.