Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The African Union (AU) High Representative for Infrastructure Raila Odinga was among the leaders who graced the inauguration of the Freedom Bridge across the River Nile in Juba on Thursday.
Odinga, who is running for the seat of Kenya’s president, exuded confidence that he is going to win in the coming elections, and his victory will come with certain direct benefits to the people of South Sudan.
“If I win elections, I want us to open the border between South Sudan and Kenya. We will talk about funding the highway from Juba to Nadapal to Nairobi so that we can be able to access the goods from Naivasha Inland Depot,” said Odinga who also served as Kenya’s Prime Minister from 2008-to 2013.
According to Odinga, it will take only 10 hours for trucks to reach Naivasha and the same amount of time back to Juba. But the promise does not end here. He says his administration will move from South Sudan to Kenya free for all South Sudanese nationals.
“As South Sudanese, you will walk to Kenya without your passports. All you will need is your national identification documents,” said Odinga.
His commitment to rejuvenate cross-border trade between South Sudan and Kenya had the backing of First Vice President Dr Riek Machar, who termed Odinga’s sentiments as assuring, given the level of confidence he had demonstrated regarding the upcoming presidential election in Kenya.
“The project that you have mentioned, that is the Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) corridor is important to all of us. We have teething infrastructural challenges as a country. Our goods in Juba are very expensive because of transport costs, and the damages that come with transporting them from other places to the capital. We are also aware that Mombasa Port is congested, making Lamu Port ideal for the expanded business volume,” said Dr Machar.
He told Odinga that with one LAPSSET Project –Lamu Port – completed, using it will mean a serious relief to South Sudan.
“I hope the road has reached Lokichoggio. We are working hard to ensure that we connect the one from Juba at Lokichoggio. We also have plans for pipeline and rail network connecting Juba to the region,” he said.
Odinga said he has ties with South Sudan running into decades back. He reminisced his relationship with South Sudan’s founding father the late Dr John Garang.
“Dr Garang used to refer to me as his brother. He told me how as a young boy he was arrested in Kenya before independence and locked up at Kamiti Prison by the colonial administration for being in Kenya illegally,” said Odinga.
He added that right after independence, his (Odinga’s) father removed Garang from prison and took him to Uganda where his security could be guaranteed given that Kenya had only attained independence but was yet to become a republic.
“His (Garang’s) dream was to eventually realise East Africa integration. I have a wish that this could be realised in the time of our brothers (President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar) who are here,” said Odinga.
Back in Kenya, a recent opinion poll puts Odinga who is making a fifth stab at the presidency and his running mate, fierce lawyer Martha Karua ahead of sitting Deputy President William Ruto.
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