Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga on Tuesday issued four directives to the party members in his quest to accomplish the 'Building Bridges' initiative.
Speaking during the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Elementaita, Raila asked the legislators to support the project as it was not about the 2022 elections, rather it was focussed on uniting Kenyans.
He told the leaders that addressing the issues that cause national discourse would require changing some laws and even amending the constitution.
"When that time comes, we must be bold enough to pick up the challenge as a matter of duty to the nation," he directed.
[caption caption="Raila Odinga"]
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He further urged the party members to participate actively in the national discourse and drive the agenda ahead: "we must reorganize, rebrand and rebuild as a party."
Thirdly, the opposition leader advised the legislators to stay focused and refuse to be distracted by familiar voices that always stand on their path to reform.
"On this agenda of great national importance, we are prepared to work with old and new allies in the Opposition and in government as we have done in the past.
"ODM must take its rightful place in driving Project Kenya and the birth a new nation within the next one year, together with other like-minded parties and leaders. I am counting on your support," he added.
The former Prime Minister further stated that he would unveil a series of public events across the country to outline the terms of the MoU to Kenyans.
"We are meeting at an extraordinary time, under extraordinary circumstances. The times and circumstances demand that we speak the truth and that we do so frankly and boldly as we face the conditions in our country today.
[caption caption="Raila and ODM Leaders"]
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"There is nothing special about 2022 elections. The only thing that is special is that we have arrived at an agreement that we must do things differently going forward. We also have something special in the realization that if we don’t do the things we have set out in the MoU with President Uhuru Kenyatta, 2022 elections will amount to doing the same thing time and again and expecting different results.
"Without the changes we envisage in the MoU, 2022 will be messy. It will come with the same confusion, heartbreaks and possibly chaos. We are trying to forestall such eventualities. As a forward-looking and reform-minded party, we must resist the efforts of political shylocks demanding their pound of the flesh out of the handshake," he warned.
[caption caption="President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga"]
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