Raila Not Interested in Any Office at UN - ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna on Sunday dismissed reports in sections of the media that Raila Odinga was poised to take up a position as African special envoy at United Nations.

Speaking in Kisumu, Sifuna stated that Raila was focussed on pursuing reforms in the country.

“Raila Odinga is not interested in any office. We have a lot to do in our country and we cannot engage in problems facing others,” he stated.

There has been uncertainty with reports indicating that President Uhuru Kenyatta was lobbying for Raila to get a position at the global body after their handshake.

[caption caption="Edwin Sifuna and Raila Odinga"][/caption]

Earlier on Thursday, Sifuna announced that the opposition leader was invited to give the keynote speech the Devolution conference slated for April 23 in Kakamega.

He added that Odinga had confirmed his attendance after receiving an invitation to the conference.

"Raila will deliver the keynote address on the second day of the conference where he will speak on good governance and transparency, given his history of fighting for the same," Sifuna conveyed.

His address came after a meeting in which Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa and Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru were supposed to brief Raila on the conference did not take place.

New details emerged on Sunday where a highly placed source in the executive who spoke to Nation, stated that despite the meeting having been approved by State House, it was cancelled at the last minute after another call came from the Office of The President.

Some high-ranking government officials are said to have been concerned with the perception that would be created suggesting Raila had the executive powers to summon Cabinet Secretaries and receive briefings on key government programmes.

Waiguru, Wamalwa and Kang'ata were in a meeting at Pan-afric Hotel ironing out the details of the planned discussion with Raila when they received the call informing them to drop the plan.

[caption caption="CS Wamalwa"][/caption]

 

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