Raila Odinga Tightlipped About His Succession, Says He'll Multitask Between Nairobi and Addis Ababa

 

Opposition and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga has assured his followers that clinching the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship will not uproot him from Kenyan politics. Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga (in a white shirt and hat) and his co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka (left) attend Homa Bay County Investment Conference.  Raila Odinga's plans for Azimio as he eyes African Union job The former prime minister declared that he would contest for the lucrative African Union job in mid-February, a declaration that former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo backed. His announcement bore discussions about his succession in local scenes, with his allies and pundits already lining up possible successors to Raila's massive following in his Nyanza backyard and across the country. On Wednesday, February 28, while attending the Homa Bay County International Investment Conference at Tom Mboya University, Raila told his troops that the AU office was a two-hour flight from Nairobi. Raila's working arrangement to influence Kenyan politics in case he gets an AU job He observed that Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was just two hours from Kenya, and he could easily travel between the two countries and physically coordinate both Kenyan and African affairs. "I'll be ready, and whenever I'm called, I'll answer. We must ensure that whatever we are supposed to achieve is achieved. The Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition cannot be threatened whatsoever," stated Raila. Raila cited the 2002 National Rainbow Coalition's "unbwogable" (undefeated) slogan and garnished it with the new phrase "unpangarable" (not manipulatable) to reiterate that his political faction was independent-minded and with resolve to conquer. The exact words were also echoed by Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, who said Raila could multitask as Kenya's Opposition leader and AUC chairman. However, Kisii Governor and Raila's ally, Simba Arati, argued that the Opposition leader had led them for a considerable time and that they could take over without losing track when he got committed elsewhere. Charity Ngilu Paul Otuoma ask Raila for direction as he eyes AU job "Eagles train their young ones, and at one point, they are left alone to fly and feed on their own. It's high time we were left to fill the gap if Raila goes to Addis Ababa. There's no vacuum in ODM since I'm here to take the lead," Arati stated. Former Kitui governor Charity Ngilu and Busia Governor Paul Otuoma asked the ODM party leader to give them a clear path to follow as he hopes to transition to AUC. "When a child comes out of the mother's womb, it has to be shown the way things are done. I'm asking Raila to show us a clearer way to follow when he leaves Kenyan politics," Ngilu said. Homa Bay County International Investment Conference Raila's co-principal and former vice president, Kalonzo Musyoka, graced the event, which has earned Wanga applause from far and wide. The three-day conference, themed 'Unlocking the Bay of Endless Potential', commenced on Tuesday, February 27. President William Ruto officially opened the event, which brought together investors from across the country and abroad. Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire expressed her admiration for Wanga, saying she was inspired by how her counterpart carefully navigated maintaining a warm relationship with Ruto and her party leader, Raila. 

by  Michael Ollinga Oruko