Bunge La Mwananchi applauds President Ruto for backing Raila’s AUC bid

Bunge La Mwananchi, a grassroots political movement, has commended President William Ruto for his strong support of Raila Odinga’s bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson position, despite the final election outcome in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

In a statement issued by its chairperson, activist Lawi Oyugi, the movement expressed gratitude to Ruto for fronting Odinga as Kenya’s candidate, calling him a symbol of Africa’s struggle and vision. Bunge La Mwananchi praised Odinga’s candidacy as one that embodied the aspirations of the continent’s founding fathers and the transformative agenda needed for the African Union

The movement extended its appreciation to the 22 African heads of state who backed Kenya’s bid, emphasizing that their solidarity would strengthen diplomatic ties at both bilateral and multilateral levels.

“Kenya remains grateful for the support it received from the 22 African heads of state. Your unflinching solidarity will no doubt strengthen our traditional ties both at bilateral and multilateral levels,” Oyugi stated.

However, the group also criticized African leaders who did not support Odinga’s candidacy, suggesting that their decision was short-sighted.

“To the rest of Africa’s leaders who chose to look elsewhere, we have taken note. Sooner rather than later, you will realize the vision you lost and the opportunity you let slip for your own country’s diplomatic relations,” Oyugi remarked.

Bunge La Mwananchi also addressed allegations of security failures during the AUC campaign period, condemning what it described as baseless accusations against Kenya’s security agencies.

The group emphasized that Kenya’s security system, under competent leadership, had ensured Odinga’s safety as he campaigned across the continent. They refuted claims that security lapses contributed to the election loss, instead arguing that security forces played a crucial role in providing stability throughout the campaign.

“There was no security lapse recorded during the campaign period due to the competent leadership of our security system. The security apparatus ensured our candidate’s safety and facilitated his movements as he sought support across Africa,” the statement read.

Bunge La Mwananchi further criticized a section of Kenyan politicians who, despite traveling to Addis Ababa for the elections, allegedly failed to contribute meaningfully to the campaign effort. Oyugi accused some legislators of using public resources to attend the event without leveraging their political experience to influence the outcome in Kenya’s favor.

“Nothing can be more ridiculous than these unfortunate remarks and utterances, especially when they come from legislators who used public resources to joyride in Addis Ababa without offering anything meaningful to the cause,” he said.

The movement called on political parties to take disciplinary action against Members of Parliament who have allegedly undermined the integrity of Kenya’s security agencies through political rhetoric.

“We call on the leadership of political parties in Parliament to take appropriate action against members who fail to respect the professionalism, leadership, and competence of Kenya’s security services,” Oyugi said.

Bunge La Mwananchi warned against dragging Kenya’s security institutions into political disputes, arguing that such actions erode public trust and weaken the country’s intelligences and security systems

Despite the loss in the AUC elections, Bunge La Mwananchi reaffirmed Kenya’s strong diplomatic standing, emphasizing the country’s pool of experienced diplomats and seasoned politicians capable of engaging in continental politics.

“Kenya has traditional and seasoned diplomats well trained to undertake diplomatic enterprises. We also have experienced politicians who can represent the country effectively on the continental stage,” the group noted.