List of Leaders Accompanying Ruto, Raila At Addis For AUC Elections

List of Leaders Accompanying Ruto, Raila At Addis For AUC Elections

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has been camped in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the past few days as the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairmanship elections near their conclusion.

In the middle of all this, a large number of Kenyan leaders and government officials have accompanied Raila to Addis Ababa in a display of solidarity and patriotism.

Notably, government officials including National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director General Noordin Haji and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi have been spotted in the Ethiopian capital.

Accompanied H.E. President @WilliamsRuto at the Heads of State and Government Meeting on the crises in Sudan and the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Convened by the African Union Peace and Security Council and chaired by H.E. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, President of… pic.twitter.com/6eyPRgw0iU
— Musalia W Mudavadi (@MusaliaMudavadi) February 14, 2025

The presence of Kenya’s espionage head has raised eyebrows, with many doubting his motives for visiting Ethiopia.

However, preliminary reports suggest that Haji’s presence may signal that strategic security briefings are scheduled to take place on the sidelines.

Kenyans have had conflicting reactions to various Members of Parliament (MPs), Governors, and Senators being in Addis, with doubts raised about the source of funding sponsoring these travels.

According to Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, around 40 Members of Parliament paid for the trip themselves.

This contrasts with the four MPs who were supported by the August House in their respective parliamentary committee responsibilities to travel to Ethiopia.

Famous leaders include Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah, Suna East MP Junet Mohammed, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, and Lang’ata MP Phelix Odiwuor, alias Jalang’o.

God bless Jakom… pic.twitter.com/wBIOdhnodq
— JALANG'O (@JalangoMwenyewe) February 14, 2025

Other MPs who have visited Ethiopia include Dagoretti’s Beatrice Elachi and Suba North’s Millie Odhiambo.

Alego Usonga MP. Samuel Atandi, Bahati MP Irene Njoki, Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a, and Nyando MP Jared Okello have all been photographed in Addis proclaiming their support for Raila.

I have gone through many elections as a candidate! Let me confess that there is no easy election! But some elections give you butterfly experiences especially if you got to wait for the uncertain outcome ! pic.twitter.com/092p4UCnaM
— Hon Sam Atandi (@SamuelAtandi) February 15, 2025

Other MPs seen in Addis include Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo, Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma, Belgut MP Nelson Koech, and Makadara MP George Aladwa.

Mogotio MP Reuben Kiborek, Awendo MP Walter Owino, Uriri MP Mark Nyamita and Kaispul MP Ong’ondo were present in Addis.

Governors Anyang Nyong’o, Gladys Wanga, Fernandes Barasa, Abdulswamad Shariff, and Joseph Ole Lenku traveled to Ethiopia as the election campaign heated up.

Nyong’o and Wanga travelled as temporary party leader and national chairperson of the Orange Democratic Movement, respectively.

A luncheon with the Kenyan delegation for Baba ahead of tomorrow's penultimate election for the AUC Chairpersonship. We remain hopeful and are keeping our fingers crossed for a victorious outcome. Go Baba, Go! pic.twitter.com/KDelfTaYL8
— Gladys Wanga, E.G.H. (@gladyswanga) February 14, 2025

Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruyoit, Godfrey Osotsi, and nominated senator Karen Nyamu were among the elected leaders who visited Ethiopia.

Prime Minister CS Mudavadi leads the high-level delegation, which includes Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei.

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Other leaders in Addis include top economic advisor Moses Kuria and former Murang’a governor Mwangi wa Iria. Kasmuel McOure, an ODM Youth Wing member, was also in attendance.

A roundtrip ticket purchased from national carrier Kenya Airways costs Ksh175,000, with bookings at five-star hotels within the city going up to Ksh30,000 per night.

The AUC chair elections will take place today, pitting Raila against Djibouti’s Mohamed Youssouf and Madagascar’s Richard Randriamandrato.

The heads of state and governments of AU member states are anticipated to vote for a new chair in a secret ballot.

List of Leaders Accompanying Ruto, Raila At Addis For AUC Elections