Losing AUC Elections Should Not Stop You From Fixing Kenya: Gachagua To Raila
Gachagua noted that the loss did not mean that Raila was incapable of pursuing any top leadership in Africa.
Marvin Chege 
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Sunday, February 16 sent a heartfelt message to Raila Odinga after he lost in the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson elections to Djibouti's Mahamoud Youssouf.
In his message, Gachgua praised Raila for putting on a brave fight as well as eliciting energy, resilience, and the "undefatigable Lion of Africa."
"You came in a credible 2nd as you held the Kenyan Flag high in a hotly contested seat of the AUC Chairmanship. You did not lose; the majority had their way. The African and the Kenyan spirit lives on. The leap you made motifs the Kenyan optimism and great hope in the continent and the World," he stated in part.
In a rare show of solidarity with the former Prime Minister, Gachagua noted that the loss did not mean that Raila was incapable of pursuing any top leadership in Africa.
Collage of Raila Odinga (left) and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua (right). /RAILA ODINGA.DPPS
In any case, the impeached second-in-command believed that the loss was set up for him perfectly to return to Kenyan politics where he argued he had unfinished business in terms of fixing the country.
"Africa needed you most, but God, in His own wisdom, found that Kenya, your motherland, and indeed, we Kenyans, your beloved brothers and sisters, have unfinished business with you as their coveted son as we unshackle our country from recklessness," he added.
"In any case, the outcome at the AU doesn't, in any way, undermine your leadership and your energy to fix our Nation. Welcome back home, our son Raila Odinga, with your head held high; East or West, home is the best. Take heart, you did Kenya proud."
Gachagua's show of support for Odinga comes at a time when the former Deputy President has been aligning with the opposition, while the former Prime Minister appears to have distanced himself after partnering with President Ruto to campaign for his AUC seat.
Raila suffered elimination in narrow circumstances at the sixth round, leaving Mahamoud with an open road to victory in the AUC elections, and making him the seventh African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson since its establishment in 2002. The other candidate, Richard Randriamandrato of Madagascar, finished last.
The response to Raila's defeat reverberated across Kenya like wildfire. With a majority of Kenyans earlier anticipating that Raila would lose the AUC elections, Kenyans flooded social media with all manner of hilarious reactions while some voiced their disappointment.
Homa Bay Town Member of Parliament Peter Kaluma seemingly expressed his disappointment with the results indicating he would start a petition to remove the East African Community from the African Union. "I will petition the withdrawal of the East African Community from the African Union," Kaluma averred, despite Raila announcing that he had conceded defeat.
Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot also voiced his reaction in the aftermath of the results in a cryptic post on his X platform. The post seemingly gave the reasons behind Raila's loss. "Religion, France, Region," Cheruiyot stated.
According to Narok Senator Ledama Olekina, "Thank you President William Ruto for your effort. You did your best and we appreciate it. Now we must think of the future of Africa. Why not divide the African Union into two? Why not?"
