- ODM Senator Hamida Kibwana admitted that she and fellow Muslims prayed for Raila Odinga to lose the AUC chairman election
- She explained that Kenya’s political landscape would be ungovernable without Raila’s presence
- Hamida was speaking during an Iftar dinner hosted by Raila hosted at a Nairobi hotel
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TUKO.co.ke journalist Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya
Nairobi — Nominated Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party Senator Hamida Kibwana stunned a gathering when she made a confession in the presence of her party leader, Raila Odinga.
Addressing an audience during an Iftar dinner hosted by Raila at a Nairobi hotel, Hamida openly admitted that she and a section of fellow Muslims prayed for Raila to lose the hotly contested African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship election held in February.
“I want to tell you one thing, and I won’t lie to you. As Muslims, we sat and prayed that you lose the AUC chairman post. I swear, myself, my husband, and others,” Hamida declared.
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Why did ODM senator pray for Raila to lose AUC?
Hamida went on to explain the reasoning behind their prayer, stating that Kenya’s political landscape would be chaotic and unmanageable without Raila’s presence.
She likened Raila to a fire that warms a drum to produce a melodious sound, arguing that without him, the country’s political affairs would be dull and directionless.
“It is unfortunate that you lost, but we are happy you are back home. We are praying for you and wish you a long life,” she added.
During the event, Hamida also took the opportunity to introduce her husband, Ramadhan.
She revealed that he had nearly given up on supporting Raila after backing him in five presidential elections without success. However, she expressed hope that Raila’s continued presence in the country’s politics would keep their faith alive.
The Iftar event was attended by several high-profile leaders, including ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, and former Jubilee Party Secretary General Raphael Tuju.
Who won the AUC chairman seat?
On February 15, Djibouti’s Mahamoud Ali Youssouf won the African Union AUC chairmanship, defeating Kenya’s Raila Odinga at the 38th AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Youssouf clinched the victory with 33 votes in the seventh round, securing the required two-thirds majority of the 49 eligible member states.
Raila, who had led in the initial rounds with 22 votes in the first and 20 in the second, saw his support erode as voting progressed, ultimately losing to Youssouf’s steady climb from 18 votes in the first round to the decisive 33 in the final tally.
His elimination came after the sixth round, where he trailed with 22 votes to Youssouf’s 26, ending Kenya’s bid for the top AU post.
A key factor in Raila’s loss was the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) shift during the election. SADC Secretariat issued a directive encouraging its 16 member states to back Madagascar’s Richard Randriamandrato.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
