Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has expressed solidarity with ODM leader Raila Odinga following his loss in the African Union Commission chairperson race.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who was Kenya's candidate, lost to Djibouti's counterpart Mahmoud Ali Youssouf in a hotly contested election that went up to the seventh round.
Raila, who led in the first and second rounds trailed Youssouf in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth rounds leading to his elimination ahead of the 7th round which saw the Djiboutian candidate contest alone.
It was during the seventh round that Youssouf garnered the requisite 33 votes to clinch the seat.
In his message, hours after Raila lost the race, Gachagua lauded Raila for putting up a brave fight saying
"Baba Raila Odinga, you put on a brave fight, and elicited 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," Gachagua said.
"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."
Gachagua went on to say that while Africa needed him most owing to his Pan-African credentials, it is the workings of God that deemed it fit for him to come home to help shape the country's future.
The former DP said the results of the AUC chair race do not in any way undermine Raila's leadership abilities saying he remains a key pillar in the quest to make Kenya better.
"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," he said.
"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."
The Former Deputy President is the latest high-ranking political figure in the country to have expressed solidarity with Raila following the disappointing AUC chair election.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, in his message to the country following the loss, said Kenya had given its best in the campaign even as he lauded those who stood with Raila.
"President William Ruto, our candidate Raila Odinga, and his campaign team gave their best. Unfortunately, we have lost. We remain a proud nation that we came so close. Today was not our day, our day will come. Thanks to all the friends of Kenya who stood with us when it mattered," Kindiki said.
The DP defended Raila's credentials in the polls saying he was Kenya's best in the election.
He maintained that Raila remains the strongest candidate ever to have been presented by the Kenyan government in the AUC polls adding that results serve as an opportunity on what to do better in future.
