A section of President William Ruto's allies are pushing for the appointment of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga as a Peace Envoy in Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
This is after former President Uhuru Kenyatta failed to attend the first peace meeting, which was scheduled for Sunday, October 9, due to personal engagements. However, some of Ruto's confidants led by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei maintain that Raila should be engaged to take up the role.
" Kenyatta has declined Peace envoy role for Ethiopia peace talks .It looks like the role of chairmanship of Azimio-OKA/opposition role is making him very busy. Ruto should swiftly appoint another eminent Kenyan Raila to this role of peace envoy to Ethiopian Peace talks," Cherargei wrote on Friday, October 7.
The same sentiments were shared by former Nominated Senator Milicent Omanga, who fronted Raila to take over from Uhuru.
"If our beloved Former President Uhuru Kenyatta is too busy for Ethiopia peace talks due to Azimio engagements, then Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga should be engaged asap," Omanga stated.
On Tuesday, October 11, Former Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko also opined that Ruto should consider Raila for a role in his government.
Extending Olive Branch
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Social Development Consultant and political analyst Nafula Kisiang’ani explained that the push for Ruto to engage Raila is one of extending an olive branch to the former PM.
She argued that engaging the Azimio leader would end the bad blood between the two camps.
"It is one of building the bridges and uniting the country. As you know in the run-up to the August 9 General Election, there was a lot of hostilities with a section of Kenya Kwanza political leaders decrying of harassment from the state. That may be one of ending the bad blood and Ruto proving that he is not after revenge," Nafula stated.
"Ruto maintained that he would serve all Kenyans. So bringing him on board will be one way of demonstrating that he is committed to uniting the country," she added.
Weakening Opposition
The Social Development Consultant and political analyst further argued that Raila's appointment may be attributed to his proven experience in diplomacy. He currently serves as the African Union High Representative for Infrastructure Development.
"Also, it is all about competency and appointing leaders who would help him deliver on his mandate as the head of state," Nafula told Kenyans.co.ke.
She underscored reports that appointing Raila was a scheme to weaken the opposition, arguing that Ruto had already clarified the need to empower them to keep the government in check.
Ruto's Conditions for Giving Raila a job
Ruto had hinted at giving Raila a job if it served the best interests of the country. He, however, made it clear that the role would be outside government.
"When Raila Odinga decides to retire, and I think there are roles he can play as a Kenyan leader, he can support the country in other initiatives may be in the Great Lakes Region, he can work with us as an elder statesman, it is not for me to choose.
"It is a decision to be made by Kenyans. As president, I would deploy all the resources that we have for the good of the country and If Raila Odinga came by, I would find something for him to do but not in the handshake arrangement," Ruto told BBC News Africa.
However, Jimi Wanjigi, a presidential candidate for the Safina Party in the 2022 elections, warned the head of state against making such appointments arguing that it would affect his service delivery.
The businessman specifically cautioned Ruto against allowing his allies to influence the appointments of Principal Secretaries and other state officers.
"When you're in charge of 50 million Kenyans, don't let people around you hold you prisoner," Wanjigi stated.
