Former
Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, Charge d' Affaires, Marc D. Dillard and Political
Officer Claire Thomas/HANDOUTFormer Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Wednesday met senior officials from the United States embassy in Nairobi.
In a statement after his meeting with Charge d' Affaires, Marc D. Dillard and Political Officer Claire Thomas, Raila said they discussed an array of issues affecting Kenya and the United States.
The ODM leader went on to say that he expressed his concerns over the closure of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
He urged the American government to reconsider the decision as it has affected among others, access to humanitarian support and critical medication.
“I hosted Amb. Marc D. Dillard, Charge d' Affaires, Embassy of the United States of America who was accompanied by Political Officer Claire Thomas. We reviewed the state of the Kenyan nation and political developments in the USA," Raila said on X.
“I expressed my deep worries about the crippling of USAID and appealed to the US government to rethink decisions that will affect access to humanitarian services, particularly access to life-saving medication."
The meeting comes a day after Raila held a meeting with the United Kingdom High Commissioner, Neil Wigan.
According to Raila, the two discussed among other issues the evolving international system and the state of the country.
He said that they also touched the relations between Kenya and the UK.
“I've had a very illuminating discussion with HE Neil Wigan, the United Kingdom High Commissioner to Kenya this morning focusing on our country's long-running relationship with the UK, the state of the Kenyan nation and the evolving international system,” Raila said.
The former PM noted that he was happy to learn of the UK’s intent to further strengthen ties with Kenya.
He said this would be done by moving from giving aid to Kenya, as has been the case for many years, to economic investment.
Raila said he was also happy to hear of the UK and Europe’s plan to reach out to other parts of the world in efforts to engage on key issues affecting the workings of international systems.
