[Raila Odinga in a past campaign rally. He has named two leaders from America who he believes have helped Africa. Photo/Nation]
Raila Odinga has named Mark Bellamy and Johnnie Carson as the most caring and astute US ambassadors Kenya has ever had.
His claims comes at the time Odinga is embroiled in escalating differences with Robert Godec, the current ambassador, who he accuses of supporting electoral fraud in Kenya.
At a public lecture on Kenya crisis in Washington DC on Thursday, Odinga hailed the two for ‘caring’ adding that they mean good for Africa.
“I am very glad to be here with close friends as well, first and foremost, Mark Bellamy and of course Johnnie Carson,” he said during his introductory speech at Centre for Strategic and International Study.
He further said: “These two remain the most astute and caring US ambassadors Kenya ever had, and subsequently two most astute ambassadors Kenya ever had in US.”
Johnson served as ambassador to Kenya from 1999 to 2003 before being succeeded by Mark Bellamy and was subsequently appointed by President Barack Obama as US Assistant Secretary of African Affairs.
Repeatedly in his speech, Odinga took a jibe at Godec and indirectly blamed him for the current political turmoil in the country.