Opposition in limbo as Raila Odinga extends US visit

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has extended his visit to the US by one more month, in a move that could cause anxiety among his supporters.

The ODM leader who left the country on March 10 had indicated that he would be in the US for a month but is yet to return.

Opposition activities including keeping the government in check have slowed down since Mr Odinga, who also heads the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy left the country. In Cord, there is currently divided opinion over its leadership in Parliament with some members saying they want Minority Leader Francis Nyenze, his deputy Jakoyo Midiwo, Chief whip Gideon Mungaro and his deputy Chris Wamalwa and Senate Minority Leader Moses Wetang’ula replaced over what they say is poor leadership.

A number of parliamentary by-elections that would require Mr Odinga’s guidance are also in the offing.

His die-hard supporters had started campaigns to mobilise as many people as possible to go to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport last week in anticipation of his return. They were later informed the return had been rescheduled.

In his Nyanza stronghold, a number of prominent families are said to have rescheduled various ceremonies in the hope that Mr Odinga would return to attend them.

On Saturday, Mr Onyango told the Sunday Nation that his boss’s programme for the US visit ran for two months.

“But at the time the former PM took it up, he wasn’t certain about staying the whole period. Midway through, he decided he would stay the full duration and described it as extremely useful,” Mr Onyango said.

Mr Onyango said his boss thinks his engagements with the management of the top universities puts Kenya “on the minds of these schools and will work in favour of young Kenyans applying for places and scholarships.”

At Morehouse College in Atlanta, where Mr Odinga delivered a lecture last week, the administration committed to increase admission of Kenyan students.

“Some of those commitments require follow up while some need to be firmed up and he is doing that,” Mr Onyango said.

On Tuesday, Mr Odinga is slated to deliver a lecture on “Africa’s Transformations and Challenges” at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs of Princeton University. On Wednesday, the ODM leader will fly to North Carolina to give a lecture.

His visit is coordinated by the African Presidential Centre at the Boston University.