Opposition Chief Raila Odinga’s appointment as the AU High Representative for Infrastructure Development has elicited various reactions in the country among the political and non-political class.
Seasoned critics of the NASA leader have asked him to finally retire from active politics. Their continuous calls for him to finally bow out of politics have been met by great opposition from Raila’s brigade.
Yesterday, ODM Party officials from Nairobi told politicians demanding retirement of the former prime minister from politics following his appointment by the AU to hold their horses. They said that Raila will be in politics for the longest time possible as long as God keep’s him alive meaning that there is great possibility that he will be on the ballot come 2022.
Led by Mathare MP Antony Oluoch & Nairobi County Vice Chairman Ochieng Jera, the officials said at the moment, Raila Odinga is concentrating on building bridges to fix the mess in the County as well as working for the continent’s infrastructural Development.
Their sentiments have been supported by nominated senator Rose Nyamunga who said that Raila Odinga is here to stay and that the new position will only activate and increase his political activities.
Raila’s new role will have him criss-cross various countries around Africa and the world as he pushes for Africa’s Infrastructural development, a move that is set to limit his local presence in the country. His supporters though seem not moved by this new development since he will also have another office in Nairobi full of staff and advisers.
Raila’s supporters believe that his office in Nairobi will enable keep his Building Bridges initiative with Uhuru on track and also manage his local presence. Raila will definitely be controlling what goes on here in Kenya.
Raila’s appointment shows his influence has transcended Kenyan borders and now is appreciated across the continent.
History clearly indicates that appointments to special envoy positions of this magnitude with well-defined roles have largely been a preserve of prominent personalities, including former heads of state.
Rose Nyamunga say’s that those castigating Raila should appreciate that the country has one of it’s own recognised and rewarded by the continent.
The noise back home seem not to deter the ODM chief in his new role. He has infact already got down to business after revealing his priority project in his new role.
He revealed that his major concern right now is to ensure that the Trans-African Highway project that was launched in 1971 is completed.
The Trans-African project is a network of nine highways which, when connected, will cover a combined total of 60,000 kilometers across the continent.
“One of them will stretch 8,000 kilometers between Cairo (Egypt) and Dakar (Senegal); another for 8,000 kilometers between Cairo and Cape Town; a third for 6,000 kilometers between Lagos and Mombasa; and a fourth for 4,700 kilometers between Dakar and Lagos (Nigeria),” said Mr Odinga.
According to Mr. Odinga, only one of nine highways has been completed so far.
AU Chairperson Moussa Mahamat said that the decision to appoint Raila as AU envoy for infrastructure was part of the African Union’s drive to expedite the integration of the continent through infrastructure, in order to promote economic growth and sustainable development.
In a statement on Saturday, Mahamat said the High Representative will work to support and strengthen the efforts of the Commission’s relevant departments.