CORD leader Raila Odinga tells President Uhuru Kenyatta to be part of Opposition's Okoa Kenya initiative

Siaya senator James Orengo(left), Cord Principles Kalonzo Musyoka(center), Raila Odinga and Machakos senator Johnstone Muthama addressing the press at a Nairobi hotel on 18/11/15 [photo/BEVERLYNE MUSILI/Standard]

CORD co-principal Raila Odinga now wants President Uhuru Kenyatta to join the Opposition in calls to amend the Constitution.

Raila said the country is faced with many challenges that need concerted efforts by both the Government and the Opposition to address.

Speaking after returning from the UK yesterday, Raila asked the President to join the Opposition's Okoa Kenya initiative to amend the Constitution to address the national concerns.

He said the many challenges frustrating the nation, including rampant corruption cases, show the country has lost direction, and called on Uhuru to embrace a bipartisan approach in solving the issues.

"In Africa, it has never been a weakness to ask the way. Let's do it. Mr President, we are here to help," Raila said, adding that even without the benefit of any opinion poll, the Opposition and many Kenyans are deeply convinced that there is confusion in the country.

Recently, an opinion poll by Infotrak showed that 62 per cent of Kenyans believe that the country is going in the wrong direction.

The Jubilee government, however, dismissed the poll as partisan and tailored to favour up the Opposition.

"So today, we want to make a single appeal to the President in absolute good faith in all humility and interest of our nation, we sense you are lost," said Raila.

He added: "We want to help you restart and re-engineer a vibrant Kenya. We urge you to take a bipartisan approach to solving problems facing the country."

The Opposition chief called on Uhuru to work with the Opposition and civil society to change the Constitution through the Okoa Kenya initiative, which has collected more than one million signatures.

The signatures are with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission for verification.

"It is part of our culture in Africa to stop along the way and ask for directions, and change paths if you realise you may have taken a wrong turn. Let's do it," he appealed to Uhuru, adding "Okoa Kenya will help the President. He should not waste time opposing it. That way, we can pass it without wasting a lot of resources."

Raila told Uhuru to listen to the recent call by former President Mwai Kibaki who called on his government to work together with the Opposition in order to better solve the challenges facing the country.

His co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka said the Opposition is not begging for dialogue from Jubilee but only seeking to work together to address the many problems facing the country. 

"For a long time, the Opposition has been accused of just criticising without offering solutions but we now have the Okoa Kenya initiative to help transform the country. Uhuru should work with it to realise that initiate," said Mr Kalonzo.

The opposition duo said many Kenyans who had placed their faith on Uhuru's stewardship feel lost and feel abandoned in the wilderness.

They said it is one of those rare cases in which the leadership is telling the followers 'I am lost don't follow me'.

Raila said the war on corruption is lost while the cost of living has risen unbearably, and that teachers feel bitter and betrayed by the Government.

Raila spoke after returning from the UK where he attended the launch of a book for Jean-Marie Seroney in Oxford University.

He also attended an international conference on security in Morrocco.