The BBI team was formed following the handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga outside Harambee House in March 2018.
As Kenyans await the official release of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report, it has become crystal clear that a significant part of the 46 million people living in the country will reject the document.
A section of elected and nominated leaders have come out strongly to oppose the contents of the report, seemingly from reading the body language and current speeches of its (BBI) supporters – the point man being the Former PM.
Speaking at the Marsabit Stadium and Isiolo police mess grounds, hosted by Nominated Senator Naomi Waqo and Isiolo Women Representative Rehema Jaldesa respectively, women MPs affiliated to the Inua Mama, Jenga Taifa group poked holes into the workings of the BBI team and report compiled.
Led by the Chairperson, Kandara MP Alice Wahome, the more than 30 women opposed the ‘Handshake Report’ whose team includes two Senators Amos Wako and Yusuf Haji.
She said the people of Kenya were in dire need of development, more funds to counties, empowerment of the youth, financially, and not the creation of jobs for a select few.
“If the BBI report increases the burden on Kenyans, we will reject it. We will not sit and watch as a few people manipulate Kenyans to create jobs for five people,” said MP Wahome.
Nominated MP Halima Mucheke said the President of Kenya must be elected by the people and not a few in Parliament. MP Mucheke urged Kenyans to reject the BBI report if it offers such a proposal.
“We shall not support a Presidential System. No!” said MP Halima, whose sentiments were echoed by Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa.
MP Jumwa said that the contents of the BBI report were clear because of the people pushing the document and their agenda.
“Kenyans must refuse strongly the use of more than Sh10 Billion to conduct a referendum that will only benefit five men,” said MP Jumwa.
She proposed that it would be wiser if the money was directed towards Kenya’s health care system as many were dying from cancer and spending a lot of money traveling abroad for treatment.
“BBI Report must be rejected if it does not increase funds allocated to counties, women and health care.”
“BBI Report must be rejected if it recommends a parliamentary system.”
“BBI Report must be rejected if it recommends five new seats of Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister…these seats are not to benefit Kenyans but satisfy the stomachs of individuals, not even their families, sadly,” said MP Jumwa.
Tharaka Nithi Women Representative Beatrice Nkatha said, “If the document does not empower the youth with jobs, we will reject it! We cannot use the report to create jobs for a few people and not to develop the country.”
Narok Women Representative Soipan Tuya said, “If the BBI Report is about selfish political interests, Kenyans will bring it down!”
“The Constitution was passed by 76% of Kenyans, and changing this law of the land will demand Kenyans to allow it, and not five people to sit at a table and create positions for themselves and stealthily through BBI manipulate Kenyans.”
MP Tuya, who is a member of the Speaker’s Panel in Parliament urged leaders to listen to the voice of Kenyans and not a select few.
Tana River Women Representative Rehema Hassan also rejected the BBI report saying the people living in her county had other pressing needs as compared to billions going towards a referendum.
The Inua Mama women MPs empowered the people of Marsabit and Isiolo by giving them cheques, water tanks, posho mills, car wash machines, salon sets, carrier trolleys, gas cylinders, and concrete mixers among others.
