Raila to address conference

Raila Odinga will Wednesday officiate the opening ceremony of a two day interactive conference on the change the country yearns for to realize sound policies in governance and development.

The conference at the Nairobi Hilton Hotel has been convened by the European Union and is part of the European Development Days banner which the PM attended in Sweden.

The PM will trace the struggle for change in Kenya and how the country ended up in the election chaos of 2008 after pursuing change for so long, especially in the 1990s.

He will discuss why the country has moved back and forth in pursuit of change and why there always seem to contradictory developments and political outcomes from the struggle for change.

The Theme of the conference "Reflection on Change" takes a critical look on the options available for effective operation of the change agents for better understanding of the circumstances.

The conference also hopes to strengthen the capacity of the multiple stakeholders towards implementation of sound policies and practices through formulation of a common frame work for change and development.

The interactive forum which includes interviews with selected leaders would also give participants an opportunity to directly engage officials of the European Union spell out their development agenda for the country.

Among the key personalities expected to grace the occasion are head of the European commission Eric Van Der Linden, Eu presidency Ambassadopr Ann Dismorr and justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo.

The conference will also go live on television at some stage where presenters Luois Otieno and Belinda Oburu would take host panelists including top government officials to respond to public queries.

The forum comes in the wake of sustained pressure from the west for the coalition government to seriously embark on the reform agenda.