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How former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is evolving on the international stage
Updated Saturday, June 29th 2013 at 22:30 GMT +3 By Nyambega Gisesa
NAIROBI, KENYA: During a dinner organised by The Times newspaper on April 29 at a summit on Africa's economic prospects, former Prime Minister Raila Amollo Odinga, the main speaker at the event, started with a joke on how difficult it was to hold the attention of an audience enjoying a splendid dinner.
In his speech, Raila not only wooed investors to come to Kenya but also spoke as an African statesman clearly stating that the continent did not need a condescending West to show them how to exploit their resources.
Since he lost the 2013 General Election nearly four months ago, Raila has apparently been on demand in the international stage, if his recent international visits are anything to go by.
From Africa's second largest city, Johannesburg, to the second largest city on the East Coast of the United States, Philadelphia, Raila has presented the African case telling anyone willing to listen that this is the new sexy place to invest.
Raila has been battered more and more, personally and politically. But after the collapse of his presidential ambition last March, his travels around the world might be his eventual redemption.
The ease with which he is taking up this newfound role is made easy by the fact that in his life as a politician, he's bounced from country to country, met high-level officials from around the world and held important positions in government.
US President Barack Obama has commended Raila for his conduct during the post-election review period, stating in a letter: "Through your words and your actions, you affirmed the importance of the rule of law and constitutional order and helped secure a better future for Kenyans."
Since he lost the election, Raila's diary has been full. He has recently come back from the Emerging Markets Forum in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, where President Uhuru Kenyatta - also an invitee - did not attend.
"I hope to market Kenya to the world as the premier business destination among Africa's emerging markets," Raila said at the event where he was a discussant.
It was here that he met former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa and President Alassane Outtarra of Ivory Coast, whom he describes as his "good friends".
Before that, he had been in Washington DC where he visited the Martin Luther King Jr memorial and was impressed by the inspiring words at the memorial, "Make a career of humanity, commit yourself to the noble, struggle for equal rights. You will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country and a finer world to live in!"
While in the US, Raila met acting Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Ambassador Yamamoto, and used the opportunity to push the African agenda.
Raila also met his good friend Ambassador Johnnie Carson at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington DC after paying a courtesy call on Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter.
The former PM flew to the US from Johannesburg, South Africa, where he delivered a keynote address on the Cost of Democracy in Africa at The African Presidential Roundtable 2013.
Raila had flown to South Africa from London where he had met former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. He identified Brown's efforts at fostering European solidarity as "commendable and worthy of emulating in the African context."
The former PM has toyed with the idea of starting a Pan African Foundation. He has been travelling around the world seeking advice on how to set it up so as to achieve maximum results for Africa.
Role of statesman
But can he truly assume the role of a statesman for the region, or is he just an inconvenient diplomat?
"Being a statesman is not a title that you brand yourself with," says Prof Macharia Munene, a Professor in International Relations and History. "People have to respect you and listen to whatever you say".
Prof Munene identified former Tanzanian President Mkapa and Ali Hassan Mwinzi as good statesmen in the region.
Like other parts of the continent, East Africa has a very shallow pool of past heads of state in the league of statesmen. Back home, former President Moi has not been active on the regional and global stage, and the same can be said of President Kibaki, who has been out of office for less than four months.
In Tanzania, both former presidents Mwinyi and Mkapa have played a bigger role as diplomats but have not equaled their counterparts in West and South Africa such as Olusegun Obasanjo, Jerry Rawlings and Thabo Mbeki. Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi are a different case as far as former heads of state are concerned.
"When you look at this region and its past leaders, Raila easily comes out as a natural statesman," says nominated MP Isaac Mwaura.
After he was denied use VIP lounge at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, lawyer Gitobu Imanyara tweeted, "Not since Wangari Maathai have we had a world repute statesperson as Raila Odinga. We need to celebrate our heroes not belittle them."
However, critics say that despite being a strong Pan-Africanist whose politics resonates with Africans and Kenyans, Raila does not want to stop playing cheap politics despite his advanced age (69).
"A statesman should retire from politics. In Raila's case, you cannot call him a statesman because he goes on undermining others politically," said Munene. "Look at Kaunda. People listen to him because he has retired from politics and has no interest in power," he says.
Standard Digital News - Kenya : How former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is evolving on the international stage
Updated Saturday, June 29th 2013 at 22:30 GMT +3 By Nyambega Gisesa
NAIROBI, KENYA: During a dinner organised by The Times newspaper on April 29 at a summit on Africa's economic prospects, former Prime Minister Raila Amollo Odinga, the main speaker at the event, started with a joke on how difficult it was to hold the attention of an audience enjoying a splendid dinner.
In his speech, Raila not only wooed investors to come to Kenya but also spoke as an African statesman clearly stating that the continent did not need a condescending West to show them how to exploit their resources.
Since he lost the 2013 General Election nearly four months ago, Raila has apparently been on demand in the international stage, if his recent international visits are anything to go by.
From Africa's second largest city, Johannesburg, to the second largest city on the East Coast of the United States, Philadelphia, Raila has presented the African case telling anyone willing to listen that this is the new sexy place to invest.
Raila has been battered more and more, personally and politically. But after the collapse of his presidential ambition last March, his travels around the world might be his eventual redemption.
The ease with which he is taking up this newfound role is made easy by the fact that in his life as a politician, he's bounced from country to country, met high-level officials from around the world and held important positions in government.
US President Barack Obama has commended Raila for his conduct during the post-election review period, stating in a letter: "Through your words and your actions, you affirmed the importance of the rule of law and constitutional order and helped secure a better future for Kenyans."
Since he lost the election, Raila's diary has been full. He has recently come back from the Emerging Markets Forum in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, where President Uhuru Kenyatta - also an invitee - did not attend.
"I hope to market Kenya to the world as the premier business destination among Africa's emerging markets," Raila said at the event where he was a discussant.
It was here that he met former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa and President Alassane Outtarra of Ivory Coast, whom he describes as his "good friends".
Before that, he had been in Washington DC where he visited the Martin Luther King Jr memorial and was impressed by the inspiring words at the memorial, "Make a career of humanity, commit yourself to the noble, struggle for equal rights. You will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country and a finer world to live in!"
While in the US, Raila met acting Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Ambassador Yamamoto, and used the opportunity to push the African agenda.
Raila also met his good friend Ambassador Johnnie Carson at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington DC after paying a courtesy call on Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter.
The former PM flew to the US from Johannesburg, South Africa, where he delivered a keynote address on the Cost of Democracy in Africa at The African Presidential Roundtable 2013.
Raila had flown to South Africa from London where he had met former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. He identified Brown's efforts at fostering European solidarity as "commendable and worthy of emulating in the African context."
The former PM has toyed with the idea of starting a Pan African Foundation. He has been travelling around the world seeking advice on how to set it up so as to achieve maximum results for Africa.
Role of statesman
But can he truly assume the role of a statesman for the region, or is he just an inconvenient diplomat?
"Being a statesman is not a title that you brand yourself with," says Prof Macharia Munene, a Professor in International Relations and History. "People have to respect you and listen to whatever you say".
Prof Munene identified former Tanzanian President Mkapa and Ali Hassan Mwinzi as good statesmen in the region.
Like other parts of the continent, East Africa has a very shallow pool of past heads of state in the league of statesmen. Back home, former President Moi has not been active on the regional and global stage, and the same can be said of President Kibaki, who has been out of office for less than four months.
In Tanzania, both former presidents Mwinyi and Mkapa have played a bigger role as diplomats but have not equaled their counterparts in West and South Africa such as Olusegun Obasanjo, Jerry Rawlings and Thabo Mbeki. Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi are a different case as far as former heads of state are concerned.
"When you look at this region and its past leaders, Raila easily comes out as a natural statesman," says nominated MP Isaac Mwaura.
After he was denied use VIP lounge at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, lawyer Gitobu Imanyara tweeted, "Not since Wangari Maathai have we had a world repute statesperson as Raila Odinga. We need to celebrate our heroes not belittle them."
However, critics say that despite being a strong Pan-Africanist whose politics resonates with Africans and Kenyans, Raila does not want to stop playing cheap politics despite his advanced age (69).
"A statesman should retire from politics. In Raila's case, you cannot call him a statesman because he goes on undermining others politically," said Munene. "Look at Kaunda. People listen to him because he has retired from politics and has no interest in power," he says.
Standard Digital News - Kenya : How former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is evolving on the international stage
