This archive report was first published on 14 July 2019.
On March 9, 2018, ODM leader Raila Odinga shook hands with President Uhuru Kenyatta, marking a significant shift in Kenya's political landscape. In a speech delivered at the Third Annual Legislative Summit in Mombasa on Thursday, Raila reiterated his commitment to the 'Building Bridges' initiative, which aims to strengthen devolution and fight corruption.
According to Raila, the initiative is 'alive and running,' and he urged members of county assemblies to work towards its realization. He emphasized the importance of a smooth working relationship between the two levels of government and within counties, citing the need for a clear separation of roles between MCAs and county executives.
However, Raila's remarks come amidst growing tensions between him and Deputy President William Ruto, who has been a vocal critic of the 'Building Bridges' initiative. Just last week, President Kenyatta rebuffed Raila's call for a referendum to change the Constitution and alter the structure of the Executive and devolution.
Despite these challenges, Raila remains optimistic about the initiative's prospects, urging MCAs to stick to their role of making laws and oversight, and warning them against taking part in implementing policies or procuring goods and services.
