The handshake spree seem to one that will not end anytime soon. The handshake has now found it’s way between Raila Odinga and his once fierce online critics.
A photo has emerged online of the New AU High envoy for Infrastructure Raila Odinga in the company of famous Jubilee blogger Pauline Njoroge.
The two are reportedly in Zimbabwe attending a meeting of the programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa, Raila’s first continental job since his appointment as special envoy.
Pauline constantly found herself in the wrong side of ODM fans during the 2017 general elections.
She was reportedly one of the infamous 36 bloggers who spinned social media campaigns for President Uhuru Kenyatta’s second term bid.
Pauline tweeted Raila’s remarks at the meeting as the AU envoy addressed challenges Africans face while traveling within the continent.
Raila said clearances from civil aviation authorities take too much time hence discouraging people from flying.
He also noted that in some situations, one has to fly outside Africa first, to connect to another African destination.
“Raila said these processes belong to Stone Age and they impede the continent’s efforts towards effectively tapping its huge potential, a market of over 2 billion people. We need free skies across the continent to enhance trade within,” Pauline tweeted.
Raila used the meeting to lay his vision for project preparation, resource mobilisation and financing mechanisms.
He also shared his thoughts on attainment of smart and integrated infrastructure development, among other matters.
Last week, the ODM leader attended his first international event at the opening of the 11th AU Extraordinary Summit in Ethiopia.
President Uhuru Kenyatta also attended the Addis Ababa meeting which focused on reforms and restructuring of Africa.
The opposition chief accepted his AU position on October 20 and is among other duties mandated to strengthen AU’s efforts, plan and coordinate the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), mobilise political support from member states and regional economic communities.
Some of his other 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.