Raila holds talks with Meru leaders

ODM leader Raila Odinga at his capitol hill office, Nairobi where he met ODM delegates from Meru on June 24 2015. PHOTO | CORRESPONDENT | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• The talks between Mr Odinga and the Meru leaders centred on the economic challenges facing the region after the ban of miraa trade by most European markets.
• Mr Odinga who is also the Cord leader had attempted to intervene on the matter by writing to the British government before the ban was implemented.
• The delegation led by the ODM Meru County chairman Gatobu Waruteere also discussed the opposition Okoa Kenya referendum crusade and proposed constitutional amendments with Mr Odinga insisting that the push for referendum is meant to channel more resources to the county.

By NATION REPORTER
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Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Wednesday held talks with leaders from Meru as he continued with his political warm up plans for 2017.

The talks between Mr Odinga and the Meru leaders centred on the economic challenges facing the region after the ban of miraa trade by most European markets.

Mr Odinga who is also the Cord leader had attempted to intervene on the matter by writing to the British government before the ban was implemented.

The delegation led by the ODM Meru County chairman Gatobu Waruteere also discussed the opposition Okoa Kenya referendum crusade and proposed constitutional amendments with Mr Odinga insisting that the push for referendum is meant to channel more resources to the county.

Mr Odinga said that the clamour for minimum constitutional amendments would help strengthen the devolution institutions and ensure free and fair elections.

He recalled the land problems in Meru which he said were widely mismanaged by the previous regimes.

Those in the delegation were drawn from Igembe, Buuri and Imenti areas.
ODM performed fairly well in the Meru region in the last General Elections but the party’s MPs from the area appear to have deserted the opposition ranks and rarely feature in party activities.

Cord leader who appears keen to revive his grassroot networks has already help talks with the Abagusii and the Marakwet communities.