ODM leader Raila Odinga will be Kenya's special envoy to South Sudan days after Ethiopia failed to broker a deal between two warring sides in Africa's youngest nation.
On Tuesday, IGAD led talks collapsed as the rivalry between President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar intensified.
With the two sides preferring Kenya for mediation, President Uhuru Kenyatta has since appointed Raila Odinga to initiate mediation amid fallout in the handshake deal that saved Kenya from a protracted political crisis.
"He was supposed to attend MCAs forum in Mombasa but had to change plans after landing in the country on Wednesday," a senior ODM official, who spoke in confidence said.
"The president asked him to spearhead negotiations in Juba to bring stability. He is now the official envoy for Kenya in the war tone country."
Barely two years after the famous independence in 2011, South Sudan has faced a protracted political crisis which led to imminent sacking of Machar, who has since taken control in sections of the country.
Raila, whose deal with Uhuru is yet to be exposed, was preferred due to long experience in mediation and Panafricanism spirit.
He will be Uhuru's special representative, a duty that Kalonzo Musyoka held for retired president Mwai Kibaki before South Sudan's independence from Sudan.
Back at home, the two leaders have sharply differed on calls for referendum, a move that has threatened to 'kill' the famous handshake.