How Raila used Chatham House Conference to drum up support for BBI

Chatham House Conference seems to have been a good platform for African Union (AU) envoy Raila Odinga to drum up support for an initiative that was formed after his March 9, 2018 handshake with President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Raila who was speaking on Monday at the Conference held in the United Kingdom told the international community that the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI)will unite Kenyans and heal the nation from past injustices.

The Garissa Senator Yusuf Haji-led taskforce has been going round counties gathering views on policy and administrative reform proposals and is expected to handover a comprehensive report by October 23.

Raila narrated how Kenyans turned on each other immediately after President Mwai Kibaki was announced winner of the presidential polls in 2007.

While heaping praises on former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Raila narrated how Annan ‘forced’ Kibaki to agree on the contentious issues on the role of prime minister in the coalition government when they met at Harambee House.

He further cited that the Building Bridges Initiative taskforce will come up with a roadmap on how to end tribal divisions

“Dr Kofi Annan, who led the negotiations in 2007, gave recommendations on how Kenya can avoid tribal animosity during elections. Most of his recommendations have not been implemented. But we are certain that the Building Bridges Initiative taskforce will come up with a roadmap on how to end tribal divisions,” a local daily quoted Raila.

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