Editor's Review

Reports indicate that 100 MPs will travel to Ethiopia ahead of the AU elections. 

Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary of Foreign Affairs Musalia Mudavadi has defended the number of Kenyan delegates at the African Union Commission (AUC) election summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Addressing the media on Wednesday, February 12, Mudavadi emphasized that the delegation was kept lean to reflect the country's economic situation.

The CS further clarified that Kenya’s participation at the summit is consistent with past practices.

"This is an important summit; an election summit. This summit is about electing the new AUC chair and other factors. The government delegation has always been led by the president the minister of foreign affairs and we have officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who anchor this process and we have a mission here.

"Our delegation is not extraordinary, we are conscious of the economic situation in Kenya and I want Kenyans to appreciate this. We have a lean delegation coming here," he said.

Read More

  1. Senator Methu Goes After 100 MPs Set To Accompany Raila To Addis Ababa
  2. Linguistic, Religious Affinities are Not Controlling Factors in AUC Elections - PS Korir Sing'Oei
  3. Special Prayer Service to be Held for Raila Odinga Ahead of AU Elections [Details]

File image of Musalia Mudavadi in Addis Ababa

Additionally, Mudavadi clarified that the delegates had traveled voluntarily to offer moral support to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga who is vying for the AUC chairmanship. 

“The Kenyans who are coming are out of their volition. It’s not an expenditure from the government of Kenya. These are people who have decided, because of their patriotism, they want to cross over from a neighboring country to come here to have an opportunity to give moral support to the Kenyan candidate,” he added.

On Wednesday morning, Saboti MP Caleb Amisi confirmed that he is personally covering his expenses to travel to Addis Ababa.

He cited his role on the Defence and Foreign Relations Committee and his interest in international relations as the reason for attending the event.

"I have sponsored myself. I have my ticket and accommodation ready and I have M-Pesa messages. I am going because I am on the Defence and Foreign Relations Committee and a student of international relations. It is good to escort your party leader in such an important undertaking. Even if I was a private citizen I would have gone," he said.