Oct 26, 2020(Nyamilepedia) — Monday, October 26, 2020 marked a great day as the majority of Kenyan leaders flocked the Bomas of Kenya for the official launch of the Building Bridges Initiative report.
The function saw the Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy President William Ruto and the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga sit next to each other ready to address the audience.
President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday defended the BBI constitutional review report saying it seeks to address negative ethnicity.
He said the law review process under BBI will culminate in an inclusive governance structure that will enhance unity and cooperation among Kenyans.
Mr. Kenyatta also took a jab at the DP when he did not understand how his deputy forgot about their goals and started focusing on 2022 campaigns.
“Tulisonga pamoja lakini hapa kati kati ndio sasa 2022 ikaingilia akasahau yale mengine but nasema tutulize boli.. (We walked together, but somewhere along the journey, 2022 matters became the priority and he forgot everything else. But I’m telling him to take it slow.” Uhuru said.
The Deputy President on his part asked the members of public to read the report so as to make informed decisions whether to support the BBI or not.
Dr. Ruto also took the time to point out what he thought were the glitches in the report.
“On the matter of the judiciary, allow me to say that there is a huge space to have an improvement on the proposal that has been made… Having an ombudsman appointed by the Executive into the Judiciary is a derogation from the independence of the institution.” Ruto said
On the proposals on the IEBC, Ruto said they are not clear and BBI has not issued a solution to the winner-takes-all perception in the country when it comes to elections.
“The question I’m asking myself is, have we solved the winner takes all equation…the real elephant in this whole conversation was what was identified as winner-take-all and aspects of inclusivity”
He said that the 2010 Constitution had made it clear that the police must act independently of any politician, whether they are in government or in the opposition.
“To recommend that we will have a police council, chaired by a CS is actually a derogation from the independence of the police.” Ruto added.
The former Prime minister Raila Odinga said the proposed constitutional amendment should be a unifying factor.
“The Quran says those who listen to all statements and then follow the best of it these are the ones whom Allah has guided and these are the ones possessed of minds, so that’s why we are saying let us come and reason as a people of Kenya and let’s talk together and not talk at each other,” Odinga further outlined.
He also dismissed claims that he was pushing for BBI for him to become President, saying he was yet to declared his interest on the seat.
The opposition leader also urged Kenyans to give the jubilee government time to complete delivery on its Big 4 agenda before the next General Election.
