African Union's suprise decision to name Raila Odinga as High Representative for Infrastructural Development could pave way for DP William Ruto's State House ambitions, political pundit Gideon Mamboleo has said.
AU commission chairman Moussa Faki confirmed the appointment on Saturday and Mr. Odinga accepted minutes later during Mashujaa Day celebrations at Bukhungu stadium.
In one of the most unlikely event, Ruto, who has been at loggerheads with Raila, was the first to congratulate the former Prime Minister.
"Congratulations to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga as he begins a new assignment as the African Union High Representative for Infrastructure Development in Africa.
"The role is key to developing linkages across the continent, boosting intra-Africa trade and integration," he wrote.
The assignment, Mamboleo says, could minimise Raila's political onslaught towards Ruto given the responsibility which comes with a continental assignment.
Further, he argues, Ruto could now freely move across the country and campaign on the pretext that Raila has a senior job, thus a smooth sailing to State House.
"The assignment means Raila will have less time to engage with electorates unlike in the past when he freely moved around.
"And this is an advantage to Ruto who is always moving around. He's likely to campaign on pretext that Raila has gone global and this could swing votes in his favour," he said.
Lately, Raila has been pushing for referendum, whose main target is to strengthen devolution besides changing Kenyans system of governance, an idea Ruto is opposed to.
In September, Ruto publicly accused Raila of using handshake to kick him out of Jubilee, a claim that ODM dismissed as 'sheer panicking'.
#hivisasaoriginal