Nyandarua Senator John Methu has raised concerns over the planned travel of one hundred Members of Parliament (MPs) to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, ahead of the African Union Commission (AUC) elections set for February 15, 2025.
Speaking on Tuesday, February 11, Methu questioned the necessity of the trip, arguing that the MPs have no defined role in Addis Ababa since former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who is vying for the AUC chairperson position, already has a secretariat handling his campaign.
The outspoken ally of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua criticized the move, terming it a misuse of public funds at a time when Kenyans are grappling with economic hardships.
“I want to hope and imagine that the 100 MPs that are going with Baba to Ethiopia are doing so with their own budget. We cannot be a spendthrift. Raila Odinga has his own secretariat. There is no role that the MPs, in my opinion, are offering apart from their supportive role that we are offering,” said Methu.
“We cannot then be, as a government, sending 100 MPs from tomorrow to Saturday just to idle around Addis Ababa. These are the kinds of things that are choking and hurting the people of Kenya,” he added.
Reports indicate that President William Ruto, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, and at least a hundred MPs and top state officials are set to accompany Raila Odinga to Ethiopia as a show of solidarity for his AUC chairmanship bid.
Raila is facing competition from Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and Madagascar’s Richard Randriamandrato. To secure the AUC chairperson position, a candidate must obtain a two-thirds majority vote from the 55 African Union member states, which translates to 33 votes. If no candidate secures the required majority in the first round, subsequent rounds will be held, with a possibility of the decision being made by a simple majority in later stages.
Methu’s remarks have sparked debate over the necessity of such a large delegation traveling to Addis Ababa, with critics echoing concerns over government spending while others argue that Kenya must demonstrate strong support for Raila’s bid.
The AUC elections are critical for Kenya’s diplomatic standing, and Raila’s potential win would mark a significant milestone in the country’s influence on continental affairs.
