Raila Odinga is a man known for his diverse political antics that majorly revolve on getting the masses behind him. The masses hear him, sleep dreaming about him, follow him and do the same thing over and over again.
His influence in Kenya is something that cannot be debated on. He is the only person that has ever declared a public holiday without following well laid government procedures. He is the only person that has given three government regimes sleepless nights. These include the Moi, Kibaki and Uhuru regimes.
His appointment as the AU High envoy for infrastructure and development was welcomed by some sections of Kenyans led by political leaders who see it as a move that will limit his presence in the country hence cooling down the political temperatures.
His supportes though still believe that he has a great say in the Kenyan political scene. Raila Odinga is seen by many as a king maker and has at times been compared to Moses who led the Israelites out of Egypt but never got to step foot in Canaan.
Raila and his millions of followers’ journey might have been curtailed by a “crocodile” at river Jordan but his decision to build a bridge might have apparently rescued them from danger. The building bridges initiative between Raila and President Uhuru came with it’s bag of goodies. Raila’s close allies got government positions and the government started paying attention to Opposition strongholds like the Luo Nyanza where the ODM chief hails from. The opposition Chief himself landed a top position in the continent with many people guessing what his new role entailed before he clarified.
Raila will apparently have offices in Nairobi and Ethiopia. He will transverse the entire African continent pushing for Infrastructural development and growth.
His die hard supporters have been left wondering if he can also call for demonstrations across the African countries he will be setting foot in. I believe that the ODM enigma call only voice his frustrations against governments that will for instance not put into good use funds from the African Union and the World Bank that are meant for Infrastructural development.
He Yesterday 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.
Netizens took to twitter to discuss Raila’s new role with many giving hilarious suggestions and comments on the same. Check them out:
Ati baba can now call for Maandamano in the whole of Africa…????.
— sophie mohammed (@Sophie254_) October 24, 2018
And address a huge rally in central Africa republic attended by goons from as far as Morocco, Djibouti, Namibia and Madagascar
— Walter (@madd_flava) October 25, 2018
Mapambano has just gone pan African
— IamKLEM (@Klem254) October 25, 2018
Baba is in charge of infrastructure now he cannot allow vandalization of roads
— PAPA AMTESH (@Jamestesh12) October 24, 2018