Kiambu Senator Karungo Wa Thang’wa has weighed in on the upcoming African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship elections in which Raila Odinga is among the top candidates.

Taking to his official X account on Thursday, February 13, 2025, Karungo Wa Thang’wa revealed that he has thoroughly analyzed the potential impacts of Odinga securing the AUC chairmanship position, or failing to do so.

In addition, the Senator emphasised that the political landscape of Kenya will remain stable regardless of the AUC’s election outcome.

“I have carefully analyzed and scrutinized the political implications of Baba securing the AUC chairmanship or not. I have weighed all the pros and cons, including the impact on ‘iTUNGATi.’ and from where I sit, the scale is finely balanced. If he gets it, we’re fine. If he doesn’t, we’re still fine. So at this point, all we can say is: May thy will be done,” Senator Karungo Wa Thang’wa said.

According to Karungo regardless of who takes the AUC helm, Kenya’s political stability is not at risk.

AUC election guidelines

The AUC chairmanship election is scheduled for February 15 and 16 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where the former prime minister is among the contestants and its outcome is anticipated to have significant implications for both the African Union and Kenya’s domestic politics.

According to the African Union’s (AU) election guidelines the voting process begins with all candidates on the ballot and to win, a candidate must secure a two-thirds majority and candidates may face elimination after three rounds of voting if they fail to secure the majority.

In addition, the union stated that if no candidate secures the necessary majority after three rounds, only the two candidates with the highest votes will be eligible for further voting process.

“In the election for the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, and Commissioners, voting continues until one (1) of the candidates obtains the two-thirds majority.

“The voting process begins with all the candidates on the ballot. Voting is conducted three times and if the third ballot remains inconclusive without any candidate garnering the two-thirds majority, the next ballot shall be restricted to the two (2) candidates who obtained the highest number of votes and the candidate with fewer votes is withdrawn, “AU’s election guidelines read.

While explaining the voting process, the commission added that in cases where only one candidate remains but still fails to achieve the required two-thirds majority, the incumbent chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat is mandated to suspend the election.

“Where there are only two (2) candidates initially and neither candidate obtains the majority required after the third ballot, the candidate with fewer votes is withdrawn and the remaining candidate proceeds to the next round.

“If the remaining candidate fails to obtain the two-thirds majority required in that round, the Chairperson is required to suspend the election. Where there is only one (1) candidate initially and he or she fails to obtain the two-thirds majority required after the third ballot, the current Chairperson is required to suspend the election,” AU said.