RAILA AND MUSEVENI FRIENDS

By Biketi Kikechi

Was Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s meeting with Presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Paul Kagame of Rwanda last week planned to boost his regional influence?

This is the question on many lips.

It is not in doubt Raila enjoys lots of goodwill internationally. He has held meetings with leaders in the US, Britain, Germany and France and later China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Iran.

"Raila has made high level contacts in all those countries not just for the sake of the country but also for his future political career," says a University of Nairobi lecturer, who has worked closely with the PM.

The Langata MP has also done fairly well on the continent, developing a high profile image for himself in powerhouses like South Africa and Nigeria.

The position is, however, different in the East African region where until last week, political analysts gave him low ratings. It had been assumed only Tanzania President Jakaya Kikwete, who played a major role in brokering the National Accord that created the Grand Coalition Government, is close to the PM.

Political future

Sources say there were jitters in Government corridors when it was announced the PM was to meet Museveni at State House Kampala.

The nervousness from Raila’s rivals in the 2012 presidential race was founded on fears he was using his position to lay a foundation for his political future. Popular belief has been that the two leaders were sworn rivals.

"He was very warm, very friendly to Raila and it appeared he is ready to work with him to improve the region," said Shinyalu MP Justus Kizito Mugali.

Undoubtedly, the PM is an adventurous political schemer who never lets opportunities slip through his fingers. He was in Uganda to officiate a function in Soroti at the invitation of former Education and Health Minister Michael Mukula. "I saw them putting down strategies on how to run governments and Museveni showed that he is ready to work with Raila," said Kizito.

Apart from Kizito, Raila took along Vihiga MP Yusuf Chanzu, Sospeter Ojaamong (Amagoro) and Paul Otuoma (Samia), all MPs from Western Province on his weeklong tour.

The meeting between him and Museveni took close to three hours and being a Good Friday, the Kenyan delegation found Museveni relaxing in casual wear.

The Kenyans were struck by Museveni’s understanding of local languages, especially Luhya and Iteso. "He understands some Luhya and Iteso and was very inquisitive about the home areas of each of the Luhya MPs introduced to him by Raila," said a member of the delegation.

In 2008, ODM supporters accused Museveni of supporting President Kibaki and his PNU allies, when Kenyans were fighting over the disputed presidential election.

It was even claimed Uganda People’s Defence Force soldiers had been brought in to suppress protests by ODM supporters.

Later last year, Kenyans accused the Ugandan President over remarks he made against the Luo community after his government posted UPDF soldiers to Migingo Island to hoist the Ugandan flag.

Raila hit back at Uganda and its leaders accusing them of taking Migingo when the island belongs to Kenya.

During talks at State House in Entebbe, the two leaders also agreed to end the row over ownership of Migingo Island.

Joint survey

They called for a speedy completion of the joint survey, which has stalled for some time.

The joint survey team called off its work last year, after the Ugandans refused to continue with the border demarcation in Lake Victoria.

Museveni told Raila the joint surveyors temporarily called off the exercise to consult with the two governments on certain descriptive details appearing on earlier documents describing the location of the island.

The talks focused on issues ranging from cross border security, trade to cattle rustling and losses incurred by landlocked countries as a result of delays at the Port of Mombasa.

The two leaders also agreed to initiate joint sensitisation exercises along the border to educate pastoral communities on alternative economic activities to end the menace of cattle rustling.

Both leaders proposed that the two governments pursue and extradite rustlers who have fled across the border.

The Government has embarked on a massive disarmament among pastoral communities along the border, an exercise Uganda started about 10 years ago. Other issues addressed included the tribulations faced by fishermen on Lake Victoria. "I’m determined to ensure Kenyans fish legally even if they are on the Ugandan side of the lake, and that will be ensured once we finish this survey," he said.

Raila on his part said Kenya is equally determined to find an amicable solution to the standoff.

He said Kenya and Uganda are too dependent on each other to disagree over territories. He said he has long-standing ties with Kenya, having spent time in the country during his battle to take over Uganda.