Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

Hillary Mageka @hillarymageka

Deputy President  William Ruto’s allies now claim  launch of signature collection exercise was postponed to pave way for consensus building.

The Building Bridges Initiative National Secretariat on Wednesday night postponed the exercise, which was to be held yesterday, citing  delayed publication of the Constitution Amendment Bill 2020 by the Government Printer.

In a press statement, the Secretariat’s Co-chairpersons Suna East Member of Parliament (MP) Junet Mohamed and former Dagoretti South MP Dennis Waweru said the exercise would not proceed as  earlier planned.

“Secretariat is working on a new date with a comprehensive programme of rollout activities, which will be communicated in due course,” the statement.

Cancellation came in the wake of a three-hour meeting between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto in what was seen as a last-minute dash to consolidate support for BBI.

And yesterday, Ruto’s allies expressed gratitude to the President for defying what they termed as “all odds/pressure” to postpone the event  to provide room for consensus. “I congratulate  the President.

This is the President I knew. Let us  now have meaningful engagement for  win-win result.

We only have one Kenya. Let us listen to all voices,” Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen said.

Former Mandera Senator Billow Kerrow  also weighed in on the matter saying: “Good riddance.

For the sake of Kenyans, I hope BBI things fall apart so that the government can focus on saving lives and livelihoods.” 

 In a thinly veiled attack at ODM leader Raila Odinga,  former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale stated:  “Reggae has stopped indefinitely. Somebody said reggae will not stop.” 

Creates room

ANC Party Leader Musalia Mudavadi also waded into the issue, saying it is time for Kenyans to close ranks and build consensus to minimise high-octane political activities in the wake of Covid-19.

But in a quick rejoinder, BBI joint secretariat Paul Mwangi asked Kenyans to ignore “narratives that the signature launch was caused by search for consensus”.

“Sounds politically exciting news but simply not true,” Mwangi told People Daily on Thursday.

His statement was buttressed by Raila Odinga’s spokesperson Dennis Onyango, who said the decision by “Tanga tanga Supreme Leader” that they will neither oppose nor support referendum bill is consistent with their name and character.

“That just moves from place, with sound and fury, believing in and standing for nothing,” Onyango noted.

Former Nairobi County Speaker Beatrice Elachi discounted the claims by Ruto’s allies saying the launch of BBI signatures must happen with a draft, which was not ready as of yesterday.

 “The team has decided to use a time frame that will not bring in any legal questioning.

Let us ensure the draft carries Kenyans and their inspirations,” Elachi said in an interview with People Daily.