Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Saturday evening left the country for a one week visit to the U.S. hours after being officially confirmed to his job at Africa Union.
Mr. Odinga’s spokesperson Dennis Onyango confirmed that the Opposition Leader is scheduled to deliver a lecture at the Duke University in North Carolina.
Raila is also scheduled to meet Kenyans from the Raleigh area and hold talks with business leaders from the State. During the trip, Mr. Odinga will be accompanied by among others Nyando MP Jared Okelo.
The Africa Union announced NASA leader Raila Odinga’s appointment as African Union Special Envoy Representative for Infrastructure and Development in Africa.
In his new role as a special envoy of the AU chairperson, Raila will have an office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and another staffed office in Nairobi.
AU chairperson on Mashujaa Day stated that the former Prime Minister had been picked for the position due to his vast political experience as well as the values he endears.
"The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, today (October 20) appointed Honorable Raila Odinga of Kenya as High Representative for Infrastructure Development in Africa.
"The Chairperson of the Commission is grateful to Honorable Raila Odinga for accepting this important assignment. He brings with him a rich political experience and his strong commitment to the ideals of Pan-Africanism and African integration, as well as a deep knowledge of infrastructure development," the statement read in part.
Raila will now play a critical role in mobilizing political support from the AU Member States and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and advocating for better relationships among concerned stakeholders on the continent.
