‘Demonstrations cost Raila AU job’ – Gachagua claims
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua now claims opposition chief Raila Odinga was fired from his job as the African Union special envoy for infrastructure development.
AU Commission chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat had earlier indicated that the former Prime Minister's tenure at AU had ended.
But speaking in Mombasa on Friday, December 24, Gachagua claimed that Raila was dismissed over the opposition's anti-government rallies held in various parts of the country in recent weeks.
"These demonstrations have really cost the old man (Raila) a lot. He had a big job in African Union infrastructure. He left the job and decided to go for demonstrations and now he has been chased away from AU," Gachagua said during the launch of Taifa liquefied petroleum gas in Dongo Kundu on Friday afternoon.
"These protests have truly cost (Raila) a lot. He has been involved in demonstrations for 20 years and every year he loses something. When he was being looked for by AU to do his job, he was nowhere to be seen. Now see he is jobless," the DP added.
Raila yesterday revealed that he requested to leave his job at AU to "pursue other pressing and urgent matters".
Responding to AU's move to end the role of the High Representative for Infrastructure in Africa, the Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya coalition leader said that he had asked to be relieved of the duties since it was becoming a challenge for him to be available.
"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. In that regard, I welcome your quick action that will free me to pursue other pressing and urgent matters," Raila said.
In a letter dated February 19, 2023, Mahamat said the end of Raila's role came after the continental body completed the transformation of NEPAD Agency to the African Union Development Agency.
"Your exceptional leadership and unique command of the issues concerned has been crucial to the leveraging of infrastructure as a key priority within the Continental agenda. The transformation of the NEPAD Agency to the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD has now been completed, with full mandate to implement the Continental agenda on infrastructure," Mahamat stated.
The opposition chief has been serving in the role since October 20, 2018, when he was appointed during the reign of former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The appointment came six months after he ended his political enmity with President Kenyatta, who played a crucial role in influencing the appointment.
