Why Raila would not accept UN job - Edwin Sifuna
No, thank you!
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Mr Sifuna who spoke in Kisumu over the weekend, instead asserted that the former Prime Minister would instead concentrate on key issues which are a challenge to Kenya, and that he won’t have time to attend to other nation’s issues.
“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,” said Sifuna.
Mr Sifuna was reacting to last week’s media reports which implicated that Kenyatta was in talks with both the UN and the AU’s Moussa Faki to have Mr Odinga as the Special Envoy and equally have an office in both Nairobi and Addis Ababa (AU headquarters).
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Sifuna, who was in a reconciliatory meeting for Members of Kisumu County Assembly, assured of the party’s commitment to justice and willingness to correct ills committed by Government.
AU Special envoy
Should last week’s media reports pan out as reported, Raila is set to be named an African Union (AU) Special Envoy, a position that will elevate the opposition chief to the status of a continental statesman.
Unconfirmed reports indicated that talks led by the Head of State were at an advanced stage with the African Union Commission leadership, to have Odinga appointed to the position where he will join the current 13 special envoys.
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As special envoy of the AU chairperson, Odinga will have an office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with numerous travels to mediate peace negotiations and conflict resolution across Africa.
According to National Assembly Majority leader Aden Duale who denied being aware of any such deal, Raila is a true statesman and if there is such an offer then he earned his place.
“I am not aware of that offer, but if it is there, Raila Odinga is a statesman par excellence,” he said.
Senate Majority leader Kipchumba Murkomen had said that the role given to Raila is one way the Head of State could extend goodwill to the opposition leader and the role suits him.
Once appointed Raila Odinga will join the likes of former South Africa President Thabo Mbeki, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
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