Political analyst Herman Manyora now says that opposition leader Raila Odinga is now using his African Union Infrastructure envoy job to kill two birds with a single pebble.
The former Prime Minister has met five African president over the last one month, the latest one being Sierra Leone President Julius Maada whom he met in London, Tuesday.
Manyora now says that as much as he is meeting them in line with his new continental roles, Raila is also busy making connections ahead of the 2022 general elections.
Speaking on Tuesday, the commentator observed that Raila already has enough connections outside, and is now trying to rally African leaders behind him to elevate his winning chances should he go for the presidency for the fifth time.
"It’s for both; Raila is not a man who will let any opportunity go. He has a better international network outside Africa and he may want to be reaching out to more leaders in the continent. He will use this opportunity to rally Africa both for his role as AU representative and for personal networking,” he told the Standard.
According to the university don, his will make it easier to succeed in the instance that himself and President Uhuru Kenyatta decode to switch positions as has been rumoured lately.
Manyora argues that Raila could be trying to prepare the way for the looming referendum which might see him ran for President and Uhuru go for the Prime Minister's seat.
He said that the plan is most likely to rally African leaders behind the same, to reduce cjancesbofnyhe the new formation facing questioning and hostility from African leaders.
“Should President Uhuru Kenyatta opt to back him and they have a kind of Putin-Meldved arrangement in Russia, which obviously seeks to exclude DP Ruto and maybe unpopular, then the ongoing networking comes into play,” he added.
However, Raila has remained silent on his 2022 plans, after four futile bids in the past.