We're footing our Addis bills, MPs say

Reports that multiple lawmakers would be travelling to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, ahead of the African Union Commission (AUC) elections raised an online furore yesterday, with many questioning the need for such a delegation.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga will be seeking to succeed Moussa Faki Mahamat as the AUC chairperson and faces Djiouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mahamoud Youssouf and former Madagascar Foreign Minister Richard Randriamandrato in elections slated for Saturday.

The outcry was mostly due to the expenses that the nation would ostensibly incur by sponsoring a huge delegation to Addis Ababa. Such costs derive from the travel and accommodation expenses. The country has previously witnessed scandals involving hefty foreign travel costs by State officials and their delegations.

The Standard has established that a host of Members of Parliament will be part of the entourage. However, most deny receiving sponsorship from any State agency. Saboti MP Caleb Amisi said he was footing his bill to Addis.

“I have sponsored myself. I have my ticket and accommodation ready and I have M-Pesa messages,” said Amisi, adding that he hoped to secure a spot at the public gallery to follow the proceedings.

 “I am going because I am on the Defence and Foreign Relations Committee and a student of international relations. It is good to escort your party leader in such an important undertaking. Even if I was a private citizen I would have gone.”

Others who spoke on condition of anonymity said they were also sponsoring themselves to witness the polls. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also denied picking the MPs’ tab.

“Why should we?” Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei said in response to inquiries whether the ministry was sponsoring MPs. Sources within Parliament who spoke in confidence also said they were “not aware” of any travel plans for the lawmakers. 

Beginning today, most legislators and dignitaries will troop into the AU headquarters. Kenya's delegation will be led by President William Ruto and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi (the Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary).

Mudavadi is expected to attend the 46th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council, which comprises Ministers of Foreign Affairs. The ministers will meet today and tomorrow and will elect eight AUC commissioners.

Dr Ruto will attend the AU’s 38th Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government on Saturday and Sunday, and elect the chairperson and his deputy.

Mudavadi left for Addis last evening and is expected to intensify campaigns for Kenya’s candidate, the Prime Cabinet Secretary’s spokesperson announced.

“Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign & Diaspora Affairs today leaves for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to lead the last-minute campaigns for Rt Hon Raila Odinga's AUC chair bid,” said Jacob Ng’etich, the Director of Press Services at the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“Raila's victory as the Chairperson of the AUC will leverage Kenya's position in the continent, and put a Kenyan at the helm of the key decision-making in the continent where he will be the amplifying voice and bargaining power of Africa,” an upbeat Ng’etich added.

He said that the former premier’s agenda would be to bridge the infrastructural development gap, integration, economic transformation and enhance intra-African trade through the African Continental Free Trade Area, among other priorities.

With 49 AU states voting for the commission’s chairperson and deputy chairperson, Raila needs 33 to win the first round. Last week, Raila’s campaign secretariat's co-chair, Elkanah Odembo, told the Standard on Tuesday that they estimated Raila had secured the support of 28 nations.

He revealed that some members of the secretariat had flown to Addis to rally ambassadors to support Raila’s bid, with Ruto, Mudavadi and the former premier expected to mobilise support from Heads of State and Foreign Affairs ministers.

If any of the three secures 33 votes in the first round, they will be declared the winner. If none does, voting will enter the second round, which will include the three candidates. During this stage, the winner should secure two-thirds of the vote.

“Provided that, if the third ballot remains inconclusive, the next ballot shall be restricted to the two (2) candidates who obtained the highest number of votes in the third ballot,” the AUC’s election guidelines state.

In the fourth round, if both candidates fail to secure two-thirds of the vote, the candidate with fewer votes shall withdraw.

“If the remaining candidate, fails to obtain the two-thirds majority required in that round, the Chairperson shall suspend the election,” the election guidelines read.

“The Deputy Chairperson of the Commission shall take over the Chairmanship of the Commission on an interim basis until new elections are held. If the impasse is in respect of the Deputy Chairperson, the most senior Commissioner by length of tenure, or by age where length of tenure is the same, shall be designated to act as the Deputy Chairperson until new elections are held.”