Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga has officially ended his tenure as the African Union’s (AU) High Representative for Infrastructure Development in Africa. Odinga served in this role since October 2018, and his departure was announced on February 24th by Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission. Mahamat expressed his gratitude to Odinga for his service, while also announcing that the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD) would take over the role.
Odinga responded with a letter thanking Mahamat for the opportunity and explaining that he asked to be relieved of his duties due to challenges to his “continued unavailability.” He expressed his pride in the work he had done towards the transformation of the NEPAD Agency to AUDA-NEPAD and his contribution to infrastructure development in Africa during his tenure. He also acknowledged the remaining challenges faced by the continent, including inaction by its leadership and vested interests outside the continent.
Odinga’s appointment was part of the African Union’s initiative to expedite the integration of the continent through infrastructure development, in order to promote economic growth and sustainable development. As High Representative, Odinga was expected to mobilise political support from AU member states and facilitate greater ownership of infrastructure development by all concerned stakeholders on the continent. He was also responsible for paying special attention to the missing links along the transnational highway corridors identified as part of the Trans-African Highways Network, with a view to facilitating their development and modernisation.
