''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? Olekina shared.
''For the record, Kenya has never before fronted such a qualified, decorated, and ideologically anchored candidate for an international job,'' Kindiki maintained.
''Our loss despite such a superior candidate with a clear agenda for the continent and after such an energetic campaign requires that we figure out what else to get right in future bids.''
Environment CS Aden Duale on the other hand stated that Africa's journey toward unity and prosperity gained momentum with Odinga's AUC candidacy, calling for a united and prosperous Africa following the win of Youssouf.
This was the second loss for Kenya at the regional body, following the loss former Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed suffered in August 2018.
Mahmoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti was voted the seventh African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson since its establishment in 2002. The other candidate, Richard Randriamandrato of Madagascar, finished last.
He won the elections in the seventh round after Raila was eliminated. Youssouf garnered 33 votes to clinch the seat for the next four years.
Leaving AU
There is no clear legal process for a country to exit the African Union (AU). If a nation decides to withdraw, it would likely need to provide formal notification, settle financial obligations, and engage in diplomatic discussions.
Leaving the AU could lead to economic and political isolation, as membership offers access to important trade agreements, peacekeeping initiatives, and regional decision-making bodies. Should Kenya consider an exit, it could significantly change its influence in Africa and affect its regional alliances.
Since the AU was founded in 2002, no country has officially withdrawn from it. However, Morocco did leave its predecessor, the Organization of African Unity, in 1984 due to its discontent with the organization's recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, a contested area in Western Sahara.
Morocco stayed outside the continental organization for more than 30 years before rejoining the AU in 2017 after considerable diplomatic efforts.