Kenya splashed $4 million on veteran politician Raila Odinga’s unsuccessful campaign for the African Union chairmanship, as revealed by documents submitted to parliament by the Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee.
The money was used for chartered flights, hotel accommodations, airport transfers and lavish promotional materials. In a nation where the average monthly income hovers around $200 and youth unemployment is at 67%, such lavish expenditure on a political endeavour has sparked anger at what many are describing as a lack of fiscal responsibility. Critics say the funds squandered on Odinga’s campaign could have been better spent on critical national infrastructure, such as roads, schools and hospitals, or on hiring additional medical personnel.
Kenyans are struggling with a cost-of-living crisis. Less than a year ago, widespread protests broke out against IMF-backed tax increases, with reports of police brutality resulting in over 60 fatalities.
The National Assembly’s Liaison Committee justified the campaign spending under Article 223 of the Kenyan constitution, which permits government expenditures without prior parliamentary consent.
Despite Kenya flexing its financial muscle, and President William Ruto’s vocal support for Odinga’s candidacy, Djibouti’s foreign minister Mahamoud Ali Youssuf bagged the AU’s top job after securing the required 33 votes in the 7th round of voting on 15 February. In the aftermath, Odinga has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Ruto to establish a unity government.
As Kenya approaches another contentious budgetary season, the Ruto administration risks further inflaming public sentiment, adding to the growing list of grievances that citizens are accumulating in anticipation of more financial burdens.
The question remains: when will the government prioritise the needs of its people over political ambitions?
Sources
https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/realtime/2025-03-11-kenya-spent-sh524m-on-railas-auc-bid-mps-told
https://data.worldbank.org/country/kenya
https://www.ceicdata.com/en/indicator/kenya/monthly-earnings