Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga has taken a break from campaigning and is leaving the country on Sunday night, March 12, for a working trip to the United Kingdom.
The details of his scheduled tour have been released by Raila’s Press secretary, Dennis Onsarigo. He cited that the former prime minister will meet senior UK government officials and meet Kenyans living abroad.
The former Prime Minister will have a busy tour where he will meet at least two ministers in UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government - as well as the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.
Immediately after his arrival on Monday, the Raila campaign secretariat noted that the ODM boss will be preoccupied with private meetings on Monday.
On Tuesday, he will hold talks with Conservative MP and Johnson's trade envoy to Kenya, Theo Clarke, at Westminster. He will also meet with the UK Minister for Defence James Heappey.
The presidential candidate's advance team has already arrived in London. It includes Ben Agina, Raila’s advisor on international affairs, Suna East Mp Junet Mohamed, Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu, Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyajui, and former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth
On Wednesday, Raila will meet the UK Minister for South Asia, the United Nations, and the commonwealth, Lord Trif Ahmad at the office of the foreign, commonwealth, and development.
He will also attend an event at Chatham House where he will give a talk on his vision for Kenya and Africa.
To wind down the busy trip, the former premier is expected to visit the Emirates stadium to watch a match between Liverpool and his favourite football club, Arsenal, on Wednesday evening.
On Thursday he will meet the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby at Lambeth Palace. He will then meet with Kenyans living in the UK and pitch his visions for the country.
Onsarigo noted that despite some similarities in the schedule, the outcome of the former prime minister’s visit would be markedly different from the one carried out by Deputy President William Ruto.
"Raila's democratic credentials in Africa are known. I am not sure you can say the same with the DP. So these tours will be quite different,” he clarified.
The Azimio presidential candidate is expected back on the campaign trail after arriving back in Kenya on Friday, March 18.
