Raila leads ODM top brass for crucial meeting in Mombasa

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has began a two-day retreat in Mombasa for members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the Parliamentary Group (PG).

According to the ODM Director of Communications Philip Etale, the retreat, which ends on Monday, June 18 will be presided over party leader, Raila Odinga at the Flamingo Beach Resort in North Coast, Mombasa County.

Mr. Odinga is expected to speak to his party members about the Building Bridges initiative with himself and President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“He (Odinga) will be seeking members’ support for the initiative which is aimed at uniting the country and solving the problems facing Kenyans and the Nation at large,” said Etale in a statement issued on Sunday.

The ODM communications director noted that the decision to have the retreat was arrived at during an party meeting held last month in Naivasha.

“This(retreat) is pursuant to a resolution of the NEC at the Lake Elementaita Lodge on the 8th of May this year where it was agreed that a joint meeting of the two organs of the party be held as soon as possible to allow the Party Leader Raila Odinga talk to them about the Building Bridges initiative and his meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta,” said Etale.

The retreat will also be graced by ODM deputy party leaders Hassan Ali Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya as well as the Secretary General Mr. Edwin Sifuna and other top party officials.

On Wednesday, Mr Odinga dismissed reports claiming that the ongoing retreat had been prompted by reports that other opposition-affiliated parties were planning to merge with the Gideon Moi-led KANU Party.

“The retreat is not a product of panic or a reaction to any recent political developments as reported in section of the media. At the moment, ODM is singularly focused on ensuring that proposed reforms contained in the Building Bridges Initiative are realized as a way to a stable nation that provides required services to citizens,” said Odinga, through his spokesman Dennis Onyango.