Raila meets AU Commission boss ahead of return to Ivory Coast

By ALEX NDEGWA
Prime Minister Raila Odinga is today scheduled to travel back to crisis-torn Ivory Coast to continue with talks aimed at mediating a peaceful settlement.
Raila returns to the West African nation "to set up proper structures to deal with the political impasse" following the disputed presidential election held on November 28, last year.
Before his departure, the PM will hold a meeting in Nairobi with the chairman of the African Union Commission, Jean Ping, to brief him on his last mission to Ivory Coast early this month, said a statement issued by his office.
Media reports have indicated Ping will be in Nairobi to clear concerns with the Office of the President over the procedure for the appointment of Raila as the African Union special envoy to Ivory Coast.
Last week on arrival from the preliminary joint AU and Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) mission, which failed to convince incumbent Laurent Gbagbo to cede power, Raila had said another high-level delegation would follow.