Nyoro targets one million BBI signatures from Kiambu

The Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) leaders in Kiambu target at least one million signatures from the county in support of proposed BBI constitutional amendments.

Led by Governor James Nyoro the leaders including Members of the County Assembly, women and youth crusaders vowed to hit the target before the end of the coming week.

Speaking while launching the signature drive at the county headquarters and in Juja sub county, Nyoro said Kiambu alone can raise the numbers required in law to meet the threshold, with a countrywide target of 4 million.

In the last census Kiambu was listed the second most populous county with a population of 2.4 million after Nairobi(four million). The county also had 1.2 million registered voters in 2017 elections.

Governor Nyoro and his political advisor Bishop David Ngari alias Gakuyo hailed proposals in the BBI report saying Kiambu stands to benefit from six additional parliamentary seats and allocation of more resources.

Appealing to residents to come out and append their signatures ahead of a referendum, Nyoro said the report, which has since addressed concerns raised by various leaders, is set to enforce devolution as it constitutionalizes the increased county fund allocation to 35 per cent.

“Besides increasing representation of the people, the proposal to raise allocations from the exchequer to regional governments from 15 to 35 per cent annually will transform infrastructure and enhance service delivery,” Nyoro added.

The county boss said the BBI recommendations will ensure no future head of state will meddle with allocation of funds to counties as the matter will be enshrined in the constitution.

“For the people of Kiambu and the Central Kenya region at large we must ask ourselves what is it we shall get after President Uhuru Kenyatta leaves office. The answer is in the BBI document and I ask our people to embrace it,” Nyoro said.

At the same time, Gakuyo and constitutional lawyer James Mamboleo made an appeal to youth and women to support the signature drive as they stand to gain from the proposed amendments.

Mamboleo said a requirement for MCAs to be degree holders has been repealed in the latest amendment to the document.

The ward reps, he added, will no longer be at the mercy of governors when it comes to allocation of funds as they will be controlling a Sh 60 million kitty annually.

Gakuyo said a team comprising members of ‘Nairobi ni Sisi’ and ‘Kiambu ni Sisi’ caucuses and various Kiambu politicians will embark on a move to popularize the signature collection throughout the expansive county.