Azimio La Umoja One Kenya alliance presidential candidate Raila Odinga on Sunday officially commenced his one-week tour of the United States with a series of key strategic meetings.


Setting off his US tour, he held a meeting with Alice Wairimu Nderitu, the Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide.


He hosted Wairimu in Washington DC, where they held discussions on a variety of matters pertaining to Kenya’s long relations with the UN and other countries in Eastern Africa.


The ODM party leader, who landed in the US capital on Saturday, later met former US Ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger, with whom they discussed democracy and politics ahead of the August General Election.


"I am looking forward to constructive engagements this week," Raila said as he prepared in earnest for a series of engagements he has slated with senior US officials in Washington DC.


Other Azimio leaders in the trip include Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua, former Civil Service head Dr Sally Kosgey, Governors Wycliffe Oparanya, Nderitu Muriithi and James Ongwae, Murang'a Woman Representative Sabina Chege, Mombasa tycoon Suleiman Shahbal and Presidential Campaign Secretariat Spokesperson Prof Makau Mutua. 

The former Prime Minister is later Sunday expected to hold town hall meeting with Kenyans living in Washington DC at 8pm (EAT) where he is expected to outline his agenda for Kenya should he ascend to power.

Raila and his Kenyan delegation are then expected to fly to San Francisco to meet a host of black leaders and entrepreneurs in the technology sector as he seeks mutual partnerships that will result in tech benefits for companies and the youth in Kenya.    


Raila, who is making his fifth stab at the presidency, has received the backing of President Uhuru Kenyatta, with whom he has created the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya alliance together with other key political lights to face Deputy President William Ruto on August 9.