Ex-Prime Minister Raila Odinga will now serve as Kenya’s special envoy to African Union, a position reserved for eminent personalities.
Already, Raila kicked off his first major assignment as lead negotiator in the war torn Southern Sudan on Thursday, a position he was appointed to by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“He is a peace ambassador for the country and that is among top duties assigned to him as a senior statesman,” a top ODM official told the reporter.
Both President Salva Kiir and his former Vice President Riek Machar have been embroiled in persistent leadership wrangles as move that saw the latter moving to South Africa for asylum.
Even just few days to his new duty, Raila has already met President Kiir and is due to meet Machar upon the request of top negotiators of the opposition.
“He is quite experienced in political field and he understands South Sudan well. His experience will enable us realize peace,” said Mabior Garang, a former minister in Kiir’s government.
While details of the MoU between Raila and Uhuru remains scanty, sources indicate that he will have a fully furnished office where he will execute his duties from.