Raila Attends Round Table Discussion With World Leaders on Ensuring Fair Elections

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga was on Friday, June 2023, tasked with helping global opposition leaders create strategies to protect votes during elections. 

Accompanied by former Prime Minister of Lesotho Moeketsi Majoro and Inuka Kenya Chief Executive Officer John Githongo, Mr Odinga imparted his tactics to other opposition leaders at a meeting in Poland. Githongo, an ally of Raila Odinga and an anti-corruption advocate was mentioned in the 2022 General Election presidential petition as a whistleblower. 

Adalberto Costa Junior, leader of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola, also gave his input on the subject as the leaders discussed how to strengthen democracy. The two-day seminar, titled 'Rolling Back Authoritarianism', was organised by the European Solidarity Centre and Brenthurst Foundation, amongst other groups. The organizers stated that the event, which began on Thursday, June 22, is meant to ensure fair elections in the countries involved and to secure the rights of the citizens. 

The participants discussed other topics, including how to set up domestic alliances, how to implement reforms, and how to collaborate with similar-minded world leaders. Other prominent figures in attendance included Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, Tundu Lissu of Tanzania, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine) of Uganda, and former Botswana President Ian Khama. 

Winnie Odinga, an East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Member of Parliament, accompanied her father Raila Odinga to the event. This was the first public appearance of Raila in nearly 10 days; his last sighting was at a rally in Kibra on June 14. Raila reportedly jetted back to the country from Poland as he is expected to unveil the new chairman of the Luo Council of Elders on Saturday, June 24.