Raila Odinga's defeat in the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson election has hurt a section of the country.
The Kenyan candidate was eliminated in the sixth round after failing to get the majority votes, leaving the race for Djibouti Foreign Affairs Minister Mahmoud Youssouf who proceeded to the seventh round and won with 33 votes.
Those who passionately waited for his win have reflected and pointed out the possible dynamics that might have led to the outcome.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino claimed Raila's loss had the hand of the state, just like he claimed in 2022 when the latter was defeated in the presidential election.
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According to Babu, Raila's loss in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, could be out of a deliberate act by President William Ruto's government which was at the forefront of pushing the candidate's bid.
"This is a continuation of a long con. If you know you know," Babu said.
The MP brought up the same accusation against former president Uhuru Kenyatta two years ago when Raila was defeated in the presidential election.
Meanwhile, Raila and Ruto conceded defeat and congratulated Mahmoud who was immediately sworn in to head the AU secretariat.
Ruto congratulated Raila for putting himself out of the race and running an elaborate shuttle campaign across the continent to enhance his chances.
This is Kenya's second loss in the AUC chairperson election.
In 2017, Kenya made its first stab with its then Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed who lost to the outgoing chairperson Moussa Faki.
Faki won the 2017 vote after seven rounds of ballot and was re-elected in 2017.
Mahmoud will now be charged with steering the secretariat in addressing the pressing challenges on the continent, including the escalating gun conflicts across the regions.
To deputise him will be Ambassador Selma Haddadi from Algeria.
