Details Of Raila's Meeting With 2 Ambassadors In Karen

Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga on Wednesday, May 22 hosted the Kingdom of the Netherlands Ambassador to Kenya Maarten Brouwer, and his Egyptian counterpart Wael Nasreldin Attiya at his Karen residence.

In a statement, Raila said he shared with the two ambassadors his vision for Africa in the evolving global environment and his bid for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission.

The former Prime Minister noted that the meeting focused on the potential for a stronger, more united Africa, emphasizing the need for continental integration, increased trade, and infrastructure development.

“I had the pleasure of hosting H.E. Maarten Brouwer, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Kenya, and H.E. Wael Nasreldin Attiya, Ambassador of Egypt to Kenya. I articulated my vision for Africa in our evolving global environment and my bid for the African Union Commission chairmanship,” said Raila.

The opposition leader also raised concerns about tribalism and the persistent 'us versus them' mentality in leadership and resource allocation.

Raila and the two ambassadors highlighted the necessity of moving beyond merely signing free trade agreements to actualizing them.

“We addressed challenges such as payment mechanisms for goods traded among African nations amidst the scarcity of US dollars and the imperative of facilitating freedom of movement for our people,” Raila stated.

Further, the ODM leader stressed the importance of a phased, evolutionary approach to tackling issues such as multiple currencies, multiple visa requirements, and different air traffic control regulations.

“I believe the time has come for the introduction of an AU passport to ease travel across Africa. Together, we can pave the way for Africa’s takeoff, fostering a continent that is integrated, prosperous, and unified,” Raila added.