After the historic handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga, the latter is poised to become a continental statesman as an African Union Special Envoy.
According to the Star, The African Union Commission is currently in talks bordering on the naming of Raila as an envoy.
Once named, he will kick start his new phase in overseeing peace efforts in different parts of the African continent.
AU chairperson Moussa Faki is reportedly said to have agreed to appoint Raila to the position after intense lobbying by Uhuru in Addis Ababa where AU is headquartered.
As a Special Envoy with the AU, the NASA leader will have an office in Addis Ababa from where he will coordinate his roles with the AU. He will travel from time to time to different parts of Africa in fostering peace and conflict resolution.
In addition, government in anticipation of his new role, will provide Raila with a fully operational office in along Harambee Avenue in Nairobi with advisers and other staff in a bid to boost his presence in Kenya. However, he will not actively engage in Kenya’s politics.
Leader of Majority in the National Assembly Aden Duale said Raila deserves the position because his is a polished democrat.
“Raila Odinga is a statesman par excellence. Raila is one man who if he gets that offer will enable AU to handle dangerous zones,” he told the Star. “Raila is the only person among the NASA principals who has the statesman’s credentials which will also help him build his legacy.”
Senate Majority Leader said that Raila’s new position which Uhuru lobbied for in the AU shows he respects other Kenyan leaders.
“Raila is the only person among the NASA principals who has the statesman’s credentials which will also help him build his legacy.”
He added that as an AU Special Envoy, the position befits Raila. “It demonstrates that Kenya takes seriously its former leaders and that efforts made in the past by the leaders are recognized.”
Kikuyu MP noted the position is the right accommodation for Raila given his marvelous work in Kenya’s democratic space.
“He [Raila] has earned his stature as a true African statesman, something like that is good for him.”
Raila once appointed, will effectively join the ranks of other former African heads of state like Thambo Mbeki [South Africa], Olesugun Obasanjo [Nigeria], Festus Mogae [Botswana] who have been appointed by the AU and UN as Special Envoys.