Leaders give different views on BBI document
By Bernard Gitau, October 23, 2020
Bernard Gitau @benagitau
The Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report continued to receive varied reactions, even as President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader leader Raila Odinga led calls for its adoption in Kisumu yesterday.
Narc Kenya Party leader Martha Karua was among those who led calls for the rejection of the report, saying it would re-introduce the imperial presidency if adopted.
“I have this morning confirmed that the office of the Deputy President remains unchanged in the BBI proposals, which herald the return of the imperial presidency and undermine independence of the Judiciary,” she said.
Sheadded: “Additionally the President will appoint the Judiciary ombudsman, thus compromising the independence of the Judiciary.”
Huge burden
Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua who has declared interest in vying for Presidency in 2022, also warned Kenyans against supporting the document blindly.
“We will not endorse the BBI report blindly. The BBI process should be for the people and not confined to a group of individuals hell-bent on using it for 2022 political formations,” he said.
On her part, National Gender and Equality Commission Commissioner Priscilla Nyokabi welcomed the expansion of the Executive.
“BBI is meant to help us come up with homegrown solutions to our constitutional problem,” she said.
She termed the report “a beautiful baby” which should be allowed to grow, instead of shooting it down based on the 2022 election politics.
Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni also welcomed the report saying it offered Kenyans a chance to address the challenges posed by the 2010 Constitution.
Prominent lawyer PLO Lumumba however dismissed the report on grounds that the proposal to expand Parliament would pose a huge burden to the taxpayer.
“Kenya will have one of the largest parliaments in the world relative to our Gross Domestic product and population. It is a true serpent,” he wrote.
Speaking on K24 TV, Ekuru Aukot also criticised the report saying it had fallen short in its quest to unite Kenyans.
“Let us not lie to Kenyans because with the positions created in the BBI will not help grow the economy,” he said.