Raila Briefs Meru & Tharaka Nithi Leaders on Building Bridges Initiative

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga on Tuesday afternoon received a delegation of leaders from the counties of Meru and Tharaka Nithi at his Capitol Hill offices.

During the meeting, Odinga struck a deal with the leaders to take lead in selling the nine-point agenda in the Building Bridges Initiative to the new Kenyan nation, describing it as the country’s last chance to build a united nation.

“We have operated as a collection of ethnic enclaves and marginalised regions for far too long. We have a last chance to build a nation,” Odinga stated.

[caption caption="Raila Odinga with a delegation from Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties at his Capitol Hill offices in Nairobi on 14/8/2018"][/caption]

He expressed concern that elections in Kenya have become mini-wars in which voters are bundled together by tribe and region.

“We have agreed with the President to build a nation out of the bits and pieces we have divided our country into and we are determined to give it our best efforts,” Odinga conveyed.

[caption caption="Raila Odinga with a delegation from Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties at his Capitol Hill offices in Nairobi on 14/8/2018"][/caption]

On their part, the leaders from the Mount Kenya region expressed their support for the Initiative and the ongoing war on corruption.

The delegation which comprised of business leaders, professionals and former Members of Parliament led by former Education Assistant Minister Dr Kilemi Mwiria, assured the former Prime Minister on the conservation of the environment and the desire to reform the conduct of elections in Kenya.

The leaders commended the ODM leader for closing ranks with President Uhuru Kenyatta. They credited the handshake between the two leaders for the sense of hope taking roots in the country and an improved environment for doing business.

Among the delegation were former MPs Raphael Muriungi, Petkey Miriti, Gideon Mwiti, David Karithi and Joseph Mwenda who credited the “handshake” for the de-ethnicization of the war on corruption and impunity and appealed to the two leaders to be merciless with the corrupt.

They invited Mr. Odinga and the President to visit their region and show the “the new formation” that is changing the country for the better.

Raila, further appealed to Kenyans to unite against corruption, noting the vice is responsible for many of the problems Kenyans are going through, including the missed development target ever-rising cost of living.

He promised to visit Meru and Tharaka Nithi soon to explain the handshake.

[caption caption="Raila Odinga with a delegation from Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties at his Capitol Hill offices in Nairobi on 14/8/2018"][/caption]

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