Opposition leader, Raila Odinga’s visit in the US for the past week has stirred untold interest among international players mindful about Kenya’s political future.
This is according to his advisor Salim Lone.
In a publication by the Star, Lone says that Raila’s visit to the US was monumental because he stirred a never-seen interest among leaders and institutions in the States.
However, he does not divulge further on what basis he says the NASA leader was of great interest to leaders, institutions and world leading media outlets.
“I have been with Raila on visits to the US before but there has never been such an extraordinary level of interest in him, from government as well as congressional officials to Africa, policy experts, Republican and Democratic electoral democracy building bodies IRI and NDI, and the Editorial Boards of the Washington Post and NY Times,” he says in his opinion piece.
And to show that key personalities in the US understand Raila’s quest for Kenya’s liberation, Lone states that “But what was said by Ambassador Mark Bellamy, a pillar of the Washington establishment on Kenya and Africa – at the CSIS event attended by the cream of Kenya and Africa experts – captured the essence of how many in the US capital perceived our crisis.”
Raila in a lecture to an audience and the Centre for Strategic International Studies in Washington, DC last week on Thursday said Kenya is in deep crisis.
“Kenya is heading towards being axed into dictatorship and your envoys have not succeeded in making things better,” he said.
Lone adds that his boycott call has been well received by their “friends” in the US contrary to thoughts that the strategy would be reproached.