{UAH} Ocen, WBK, Edmund//Raila as Africa's Minister for Transportation

Folks;

The wobbling African Union, like its predecessor, the Organization of African Unity, OAU, always teases us with promising ideas that are then abandoned or partially implemented.

Throughout its life time, the defunct OAU was effective in only one area: the Liberation struggles.

At least 10 countries can credit the OAU with their independence from colonialism: the best examples being Mozambique (1975) Zimbabwe (1980) and Namibia (1990.) The numerous economic blocs have mostly failed, or been rendered irrelevant, because of a few reasons, chief among them being regional political rivalry.

That's why I'm guardedly optimistic that the appointment of Kenya's Raila Odinga, as AU's chief representative for Infrastructure Development, will succeed in the very environment that has frustrated every meaningful effort at structural economic development.

Raila brings to the AU a swell of CV in terms of national economic planning and execution. He has been admirably effective at every portfolio has held in the Kenyan government. 

This AU assignment, however, will require more than his personal wherewithal to make any headway, because dimly enlightened leaders at the top, and their myopic underlining, stand in the way. 

But, finally, Africa is starting to think like the giant that it is. It needs to open up doors for more Railas.

Pojim

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