Enock Amukhale

Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader Musalia Mudavadi has warned the plans to review the Constitution may fail if the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) taskforce report is left in the hands of politicians.

Speaking at the burial of retired judge Daniel Aganyanya in Hamisi, Vihiga on Saturday, Mudavadi said the drama and innuendo witnessed in the on-going BBI rallies are likely to derail the objective of the initiative.

“We are likely not to achieve political reforms if the BBI report is left in the hands of politicians. The on-going BBI entertainment will not help Kenyans achieve reforms,” warned Mudavadi.

The former vice president cautioned politicians against turning the BBI debate into an ‘us-versus-them’ affair, where leaders are profiled in the categories of those who support and those who oppose it.

Mudavadi only attended the second BBI rally at Bukhungu Stadium, Kakamega on January 18 after initially indicating he would skip it.

He said Kenyans should by allowed to air their views on the BBI report without being coerced by politicians. “Politicians should keep off the discussions and give Kenyans a chance to make up their minds,” he said.

Electoral body

Mudavadi said only sound reforms will ensure future elections are free and fair.

“It will be useless to send the whole electoral commission home without having sober Constitution reforms that will give us fair and free elections. Our electoral body should be guided by a properly crafted Constitution,” said Mudavadi.

 Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula and his Vihiga counterpart George Khaniri said BBI should have the goodwill of all Kenyans. They said that if adopted, the BBI report would ensure equitable distribution of national resources. 

Khaniri said the Western region had, in particular, been given a raw deal in distribution of the national cake, a situation which, he said, would be rectified if proposals of the BBI report are implemented.

He said there was no single project in the region worth Sh100 million and above. 

Khaniri also decried what he called the marginalisation of the Luhya community in appointments to senior government positions.