Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat on Thursday, February 23, announced that ODM leader Raila Odinga’s job as an African Union (AU) envoy has ended.
“Your role in this journey, Excellency, has been invaluable. Allow me to express my profound gratitude for accepting to serve in this role during the transition period, which has now come to a happy conclusion,” Faki said in a statement.
The news elicited sharp reactions from critics of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party leader claiming that Raila was fired for his continued efforts in undermining the government of the day.
However, in a quick rejoinder, the former Prime Minister welcomed the African Union’s move to relieve him of his duty stating that he was glad that his request to free him up to pursue other matters had been granted.
But a cloud of controversy swirled around the circumstances of Raila’s exit from the continental job.
It has now emerged that Kenya’s President William Ruto’s closed-door meeting with AU convened during the sidelines of the AU Heads of States and Government Summit in Addis Ababa sealed Raila’s fate at the continental body.
It is worth noting that the letter terminating Raila’s continental job was dated February 19, the day President William Ruto held a closed-door meeting with officials of the Commission.
Further, a source at the commission confirmed to the Daily Nation that Raila’s sacking was a “polite termination” due to what he described as “endless politicking”.
“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,” said the source.
Kivumbi.co.ke understands that Raila has been holding public Baraza’s with citizens insisting that his victory was stolen.
