Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Monday came under sharp criticism by sections of Kenyans online after letting his daughter Winnie Odinga sit in a high-level meeting on his first engagement as a special African Union envoy.
Winnie Odinga accompanied his father on the courtesy call to the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) South Africa where, in a video shared on Twitter, she is seen taking notes from the deliberations.
Raila had visited the NEPAD offices in Midrand, South Africa meeting secretariat staff led by the Chief Executive Officer Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki.
After emerging from the meeting, Winnie and the former Prime Minister's social media pages uploaded photos of their meeting, but there were no details of the role she was playing in his father's official affairs.
It was the first time Winnie Odinga's facebook shared a post since August this year, attracting criticism from the social spheres with suspicions that she had been picked to be the dad's personal secretary during the meeting.
In the meeting, NEPAD CEO Ibrahim Mayaki assured Mr. Odinga of the agency's support in his new role on the African continent as he eyes bridging the missing links in the African infrastructural development agenda.
"We had a very lively discussion regarding the Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa focusing on the missing links along the Trans National Highway corridors, the continental High-Speed Rail program as well as Open skies to allow for easier trade and transportation,” stated Mr. Odinga in a statement.
A number of Kenyans wondering why Winnie attended the meeting reacted to the statement and here are some of the reactions;
Here is a video from the meeting attended by both Raila Odinga and his daughter Winnie:
Dr Mayaki @NEPAD_Mayaki informed Rt. Hon Raila Odinga @RailaOdinga that NEPAD Agency will support his role as High Representative for Infrastructure Development #TheAfricaWeWant @SymerreGrey @adamamdeen @NapoLouis pic.twitter.com/kRS0Vf4dUI
