BBI signatures hit 2 million ahead of Friday’s deadline

A total of  two million signatures had by yesterday been collected with Western region leading in the Building Bridges Initiative  (BBI) drive.

BBI secretariat co-chairman Dennis Waweru said the campaign had been embraced across the country.

“Western region at the moment has recorded impressive figures in terms of collected signatures.

In Mt Kenya region, Murang’a has an impressive record with 100,000 signatures against their target of 120,000 with three days remaining,” said Waweru.

The former Dagoretti South MP said the collection would end on Friday where they expect to have collected over 4.5 million signatures.

“We are going to tabulate the signatures collected across the country and give a clear picture of how regions have faired in the campaign,” he said.

 Waweru was speaking in Nairobi at the Secretariat offices where he hosted Wiper  Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka who was accompanied by Wiper legislators and Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr.

He said with Kalonzo endorsing the BBI referendum bill, the window of senior politicians to publicly sign the document was closing fast.

On his part, Kalonzo said Wiper has been on the forefront to support the BBI document and asked politicians and Kenyans to back the document.

 “This BBI referendum process is not a contest between ODM leader Raila Odinga and Deputy President William Ruto.

It is bigger than an individual and good for Kenya’s posterity,” he said. He warned those politicians still dilly-dallying on whether to support the Bill, saying the ship has left the dock.

Kalonzo said BBI is pro-devolution as it addresses the issue of the gender rule.

Waweru refuted the claim that provincial administrators were driving the signature collection initiative across the country saying BBI coordinators in 14 regions, 47 counties and all sub counties have been mandated to oversee the exercise.

On his part, Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni commended Kalonzo for his unique way of operating politically, saying he has been a true son of Kenya.

“Many have called you names but you have stood up when this country needs you,” said Kioni.

Political unrest

He threw his weight behind the BBI bill saying it has protected constituencies, that could have been scrapped and created others to improve on representation, which will follow resources.

Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr said BBI is here to end the cycle of political unrest before and after elections.

At the same time, Kalonzo faulted what he described as the harassment of embattled Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, after police used teargas canisters to disperse his meeting with Ward Reps  in Nairobi on Monday. 

“We have a Constitution that protects every Kenyan. Sonko should be left to meet with MCAs and enjoy the rights enshrined in the Constitution,” said Kalonzo.

At the centre of Governor Sonko’s ouster bid is his refusal to sign a budget, thus denying Nairobi Metropolitan Services monies meant for the implementation of the four transferred functions. 

But Justice Nzioki Makau on Tuesday barred the County Assembly from discussing the impeachment motion by MCA Michael Okumu pending inter partes hearing on Thursday.

Last week, a notice of Sonko’s impeachment motion was tabled at the county assembly, based on four charges including gross violation of the Constitution and abuse of office.

However, Sonko accused “State House cartels” who want to control the city of being behind that budget.