Kenya had invested huge resources in Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed's bid to become the next chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC).
With her unexpected loss, the attention of the country is expected to shift to the cost of the campaign that lasted about three months.
One of the highlights of the campaign was in early November when Deputy President William Ruto went on an impressive week-long shuttle diplomacy to ten African countries. The visit was made through a chartered private jet.
The Star had previously reported their sources as indicating a private jet costs about Sh1.5 million per hour.
This would mean that the week-long mission (168 hours in total) would have cost roughly Sh100 Million.
Similar jets have been hired for the 7-member Cabinet sub-committee that was headed by Education CS Fred Matiang'i.
Other members of the team included Najib Balala (Tourism), Sicily Kariuki (Public Service), Judy Wakhungu (Environment), Henry Rotich (National Treasury), Adan Mohammed (Industrialisation) and Raychelle Omamo (Defence).
Given that commercial flights are very much disconnected between African countries, the sub-committee is reported to have been forced to use chartered flights in the campaign that saw them visit a total of 52 countries.
During her well-wishing party last week, Ms Mohammed admitted that this was the first time that such a fete had been accomplished in AU politics.
Apart from the logistics costs, each of the delegations that travelled, whether by the DP or by the CSs was accompanied by aides and civil servants from the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
After considering the additional costs in accommodation and foreign trip allowance, the Daily Nation reported that the campaign would have cost at least Sh350 Million.
Other sources have claimed that as much as Sh1 Billion was spent on the unsuccessful bid.
The government has, however, declined to reveal the specifics of the cost of their intensive continental campaign.
“We had a very low budget and we have been very frugal especially since this comes at a time where there are other pressing needs for the government,” Matiang'i stated last week when questioned on the cost of their diplomatic offensive.
