A group of women parliamentarians has rejected the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report presented this week.
The Inua Mama, Jenga Taifa members called on Kenyans to ‘say no’ to the BBI report saying the process of formulating it was flawed, and even the team who oversaw its development was unconstitutional.
Uasin Gishu County MP Gladys Shollei said the contents of the BBI report were already captured in the Constitution and there was no need for the nine points.
MP Shollei said the constitution was the supreme law of the land and contained matters pertaining to freedom, inclusivity, and honouring those who fought for our independence.
“There is no inclusivity in BBI. The inclusivity purported to be sold to us (Kenyans) by BBI is to include a few people who have lost elections, or extend terms in order to remain in the leadership of the country,” said MP Shollei who formerly served as the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary in Kajiado County.
Kandara MP Alice Wahome said the BBI report was dividing the country into more tiny pieces since the process did not involve all, and the report also lives out the majority of Kenyans.
“Kenyans want to be united but the BBI does not have a majority of the tribes in Kenya and is seemingly benefiting a select few,” said MP Wahome.
Isiolo Women Representative Rehema Jaldesa said the BBI report had no representation by the Borana, Maasai, Somali and other tribes, and was therefore dead on arrival.
She told Kenyans to reject in totality any referendum that does not address the issues of women like the two-third gender rule, increased allocation of resources to counties and issues affecting the majority of Kenyans and not political retirees and rejects.
“There is a reason why the government has a retirement age for all, and we will do ourselves a great disservice by giving jobs to people who are in their 70s and 80s while we have young able Kenyans willing and able to lead,” said MP Jaldesa.
They were speaking in Isinya, Kajiado County where the Inua Mama Group was hosted by Nominated Senator Mary Seneta. The women presented a cheque of one million shillings, money that would empower the women, youth, and disabled in the county.
BY ANNE N. KANINA – MACHARIA
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