Appoint Raila as peace envoy to Ethiopia

Nandi County Senator Samson Cherargei  has proposed ODM leader Raila Odinga appointment as the AU peace envoy to Ethiopia.

Cherargei’s submission comes after former President Uhuru Kenyatta wrote to the AU chairman Mousa Faki Mahamat stating he won’t attend the peace talks. 

“H.E Kenyatta has declined Peace envoy role for Ethiopia peace talks .It looks like the role of chairmanship of Azimio-OKA/opposition role is making him very busy,” he tweeted on Friday.

He added:

“H.E Ruto should swiftly appoint another eminent Kenyan I.e Raila to this role of peace envoy to Ethiopian Peace talks.”

Uhuru said he could not attend the talks scheduled to be held in South Africa citing a clash of events in his schedule.

“I wish to notify your good office that I will not be able to attend the AU-Convened Peace Talks scheduled for October 8, 2022, in South Africa owing to conflicts in my schedule,” he said in the letter.

The talks were expected to be Uhuru’s first assignment since he handed over power to President William Ruto on September 13.

During his inauguration, Ruto said he had agreed with Uhuru to have him as a peace envoy for the Great Lakes region and Horn of Africa.

“I have asked my elder brother President Uhuru Kenyatta who has done commendable engagements with those regions and he has graciously agreed to continue chairing those discussions on behalf of the people of Kenya,” he said.

Raila is the AU High Representative for Infrastructure Development in Africa.

He was appointed by Mahamat in October 20, 2018.