US Ambassador to Kenya, Meg Whitman, has expressed strong support for Raila Odinga’s bid to become the next African Union Commission (AUC) Chairman.
During a recent interview with Spice FM, Whitman praised Odinga, stating that she holds him in high regard and believes his potential leadership at the AU would benefit East Africa and Kenya significantly.
“I had a meeting with Raila a while ago, I have a great deal of respect for him and I’m excited about his potential running of AU and that’s good for East Africa and Very Good for Kenya and I have a lot of respect for Him,” Meg stated.
The discussion was sparked by a question directed at Whitman regarding the speculation surrounding her comments last year, where she described the 2022 Kenyan elections as one of the fairest and most transparent.
When asked if she would still stand by her previous statements, Whitman firmly replied, “I would, because by all reports not by what America said there were well over a thousand election observers here, there were independent groups who made those comments, and from that we saw this was a free and fair election.”
Drawing from her experience in California politics, where she ran for Governor, Whitman highlighted her understanding of the political landscape and remained unfazed by any criticisms, comparing the Kenyan elections to her own challenging political journey in California.
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“I run for Governor of California, so I understand politics and People said Oh weren’t you upset or hurt, and I said but relative to what I endured running for Governor of California that was a one, what I encountered in California was a 10.”
Meg Whitman’s Controversial remarks
Last year August 16, 2023, Whitman while speaking during the Devolution Conference said Kenya held the most free, fair and credible elections in its history.
Whitman in her address said the affirmation by the Supreme Court was a testimony that the election had been held in a transparent way.
“I arrived in Kenya days before the general election, and what I witnessed was short of remarkable,” she said amidst cheers and claps from the crowd that included President William Ruto.
“The election was observed by local and international election organizations and the results were upheld by the Kenyan Supreme Court and power was transferred orderly and peacefully at the time,” she added.
Raila Claps Back at Meg Whitman
Her remarks garnered widespread controversy particularly from members of the public as well as leaders who felt the opposite was true.
Among such leaders who voiced their opinion regarding the remarks was opposition leader, Raila Odinga himself.
Raila while addressing delegates at the ongoing Devolution conference in Uasin Gishu county, told off the diplomat asking her to keep off Kenya’s internal affairs.
He said Kenya is not a US colony and should be left to handle its own affairs.
“Tell the rogue ambassador Kenya is not the United States. Kenya is not a colony of the United States. Keep your mouth while you are here. Otherwise, we will call for your recall back to your country,” Raila said then.
Raila Hosts Whitman at his Residence
Whitman’s endorsement of Odinga’s AUC Chairman bid comes at a crucial time, as the former Prime Minister intensifies his lobbying efforts for the coveted position.
Odinga recently hosted Whitman at his residence in Karen, where they discussed various issues, including investment, floods in Kenya, and his AU candidature.
Also Read: Kenya Is Not US Colony; Raila Attacks Whitman
Unlike previous tensions between the two leaders, Raila and Whitman appeared friendly during the meeting, with Odinga’s wife, Mama Ida Odinga, also present.
In a statement on his social media pages, Odinga wrote, “This morning, I welcomed US Ambassador to Kenya, Madam Meg Whitman, to my home in Karen. We had a productive discussion covering various issues.”
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