Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba in Europe for two-week visit, set to meet Iceland President Ólafur Grímsson

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary-General Ababu Namwamba

Kenya: Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary-General Ababu Namwamba has left the country for a two-week private visit to Europe.

Namwamba, who was recently ousted as the chairman of the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC), is scheduled to visit Denmark and Iceland.

The Budalangi MP, who left after the conclusion of the 2nd retreat of the Western Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) at Sosa Resort in Mbale, Vihiga County, on Sunday 3rd and Monday 4th, hinted he was out to activate his political connections internationally.

“I am scheduled to meet Iceland President, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson and the Mayor of the capital city, Reykjavik, Mr Dagur B. Eggertsson,” Namwamba told The Standard.

He said meetings have also been scheduled with mayors of three other top cities, and the leadership of two major Icelandic political parties.

Asked why he was activating the ties at this point in time, Namwamba simply noted, “May be am breaking away from some political shadows and cutting my own niche.”

He went on, “Iceland is one of the most highly developed countries in the world, ranked 2nd globally by the United Nations Human Development Index, with a nominal per capita of US $52,967. The country is also ranked as the most peaceful in the world, with a highly acclaimed robust constitutional democratic culture,”

Namwamba said it’s also among the top 10 green economies in the world and a global leader in geothermal and hydro power production and technology.

“Iceland is today providing Kenya with expert consultancy services in exploitation of geothermal power, through GDC and KENGEN,” added Namwamba.

He said the visit is the first in a well-planned series of international outreach intended to strengthen a rich international network of friends and contacts, which he established while studying in Washington, DC (USA) and during his international advocacy work when he headed The Chambers of Justice, before plunging into politics in 2007.