Revealed! How Ruto ended Raila’s job as AU Infrastructure envoy
Ruto ended Raila's job as AU Infrastructure envoy according to diplomatic sources privy to the information
Ruto ended Raila’s job as AU Infrastructure envoy according to diplomatic sources privy to the information.
Insiders at the continental body claim that President William Ruto had a hand in former prime minister Raila Odinga’s departure as the AU’s High Representative for Infrastructure.
On Thursday, February 24, a diplomatic source at the African Union Commission (AUC) initiated a closed-door meeting between Ruto and officials of the Commission convened during the sidelines of the AU Heads of State and Government Summit.
According to the source, the recent anti-government protests prompted the Kenyan delegation to seek that Raila’s term be terminated.
“You must remember that President Uhuru Kenyatta who got him here is no longer in power. This was a polite termination and the request was made at one of the closed-door meetings on the sidelines of the AU Summit,” the diplomat told Nation on Thursday, February 2.
And a Kenyan official remarked: “ Yes! H.E [President William Ruto] on this end requested that it be terminated given Raila Odinga’s continued politicking.”
Another highly placed source in government pointedly said Mr. Odinga had simply lost his continental job because of his hard-line position that he does not recognize President William Ruto and his continued branding of the Kenya Kwanza government as illegitimate.
The official said Raila’s position became untenable given his persistent attacks on the government, even after international observer missions, including the AU, termed the Kenyan elections credible and the Supreme Court subsequently upheld the election of Ruto.
Another source from the Kenya delegation also alleged William Ruto was behind the request.
“The AU has sanctioned nations that do not support democracy and people who try to create instability in stable African nations. Raila has said he doesn’t recognize Ruto as President, he is holding anti-government meetings and recently unveiled youths in red berets. It’s the same as trying to overthrow a democratically elected government. He cannot continue to work in the AU yet he doesn’t espouse its views,” said the source who insisted the exit was a termination.
Raila’s tenure as AU Infrastructure envoy end
Ruto, Gachagua office spends KSh9 billion in seven months
Parliament to initiate probe on DP Gachagua’s Conduct-Azimio lawmaker
The AU, on the other hand, was inclined to heed the request given that independent agencies in the country, such as the Supreme Court, upheld the election victory of Ruto.
Notably, officials at the continental body also considered that the election observers also took part in the 2022 General Election, and no issues were raised over Ruto’s win.
However, Raila maintained that his term ended on his own volition, given that he had requested to exit the post but a diplomatic source at the AUC says it was a “polite termination” due to what he described as “endless politicking”.
“During our meeting on the sidelines of the 2nd Dakar African Infrastructure Financing Summit in Dakar, Senegal about three weeks ago, I indicated the challenges to my continued availability for the role of AU High Representative for Infrastructure Development in Africa,” Raila stated.
Also read,
Raila reveals had requested to leave AU envoy job
UK responds to sexual harassment of workers in Kenyan tea farms
UK while blaming China refutes claims of dumping used clothes (Mitumba) in Kenya
Follow us
