Details of Raila’s new role and the important meeting he will attend this week

janet ndila

May 27, 2018 11:33 AM

Raila takes up special assignment

Opposition leader Raila Odinga has kicked off a series of high-profile meetings in what seems to usher him to his new role as special envoy and international diplomat following the 09 March handshake.

This week, reports indicate that the opposition leader will jet out to South Africa for another high profile engagement and is expected to be given a befitting reception matching his status.

Odinga will meet exiled former South Sudan vice-president Riek Machar who is leading a faction of government soldirs allied to him in a long standing war with the government of Salva Kiir.

The meeting is in an attempt to reconcile Machar with South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and bring peace to the country that has never known lasting peace for decades.

Thursday this week, marked his first formal engagement when he held a 7-hour meeting with South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir.

Odinga was received by Kenya’s ambassador to South Sudan Cleland Leshore during his maiden trip as a peace envoy.

The NASA boss was accompanied by his lawyer Paul Mwangi and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed.

Scanty details are available on his future engagements but the opposition chief is expected to spear head efforts to bring peace across the continent with the support of the government and African Union.

During the burial of Winnie Mandela in South Africa, Odinga was the official state representative in what signaled better days for the opposition chief after making peace with is erstwhile political rival, President Uhuru Kenyatta.

janet ndila