Opposition leader Raila Odinga has just done what most didn’t expect. No one ever imagined that Odinga would quit Kenyan politics at this stage, or did you?
Through his spokesperson, Odinga who is currently in the United Kingdom awaiting Gor Mahia to face off Everton at Goodison Park said he will keep off 2022 succession politics so as to concentrate on his new role as AU High Representative for Infrastructure.
In a statement, Raila’s spokesperson Dennis Onyango said the ODM leader’s new role may not allow him to engage in the matters bordering on the next general election.
“To provide the required leadership in this critical area, and in line with his previous pronouncements, Raila wishes to reiterate that he will not engage in Kenya’s succession politics ahead of 2022,” he said.
Raila accepted the AU position on October 20.
Onyango said the ODM leader wants to dedicate the next couple of years to building infrastructure across the continent through his new office.
“He also wants to unite Kenyans through the Building Bridges initiative,” he said adding that Raila will continue operating from Nairobi where an office will be set up to coordinate his activities.
“Since the position will require frequent travels to foot-print member states and regional economic communities across the continent, he will work with NEPAD offices in the various regions to coordinate his activities,” he said.
Some of Raila’s responsibilities include building political buy-in and ownership of member states, mobilising Africa’s partners and resources to assist member states to develop their infrastructure.
Onyango’s comments come just weeks after his new AU role pitted his staunch supporters against their Jubilee counterparts.
While those in Jubilee have been telling Raila to quit local politics in light of his new role, those in his camp have been saying that he is going nowhere.
The assertions also follow in the wake of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s warning to politicians to shelve the succession agenda and concentrate on development that benefits Kenyans.
The March 9 handshake between Uhuru and Raila appears to have changed how the two have been playing politics with unity and development as their clarion call. Has Odinga failed his backyard which DP Ruto is currently traversing?
However, Deputy President has been on a campaign mode consolidating support for his presidential bid with an understanding that he will succeed Uhuru in Jubilee.
Uhuru has been making veil attempts to dismiss Ruto’s campaigns publicly but the DP has insisted he was just transversing the country as the President’s assistant.
Last week, Uhuru told off Mt Kenya MPs who have been propelling the succession debate asking them to concentrate on the mandate given to them.
He however noted that his 2022 pick will surprise them. The president left us to guess on his pick. Could he be DP Ruto or someone else?