Ruto woos religious leaders to oppose BBI reforms

Deputy President William Ruto on Sunday concluded his three-day tour of Coast, where he enlisted religious leaders as allies in his opposition to the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) and calls for a referendum.

Dr Ruto, who only appeared in public at Kongowea, Nyali Constituency, chose to hold private meetings during his tour. He met both religious and women’s leaders.

He urged the two groups to push for the full implementation of the Constitution, rather than making changes to suit a few individuals.

"Religious leaders must endeavour to partner and work with the government and as interlocutors between communities and the leaders by offering guidance. You should offer guidance, facilitate dialogue and influence the thinking that will push for further transformation of our country," said Mr Ruto in a meeting with Coast religious leaders at Tudor Pastoral Centre in Mombasa.

This is not the first time Dr Ruto is teaming up with religious leaders to oppose change to the law. In 2010, he capitalised on clauses in the draft 2010 Constitution that differed with religious doctrine to unite men of the cloth to oppose the document. The Church teamed up with Mr Ruto, then Eldoret North lawmaker, to rally Kenyans to vote 'No' against the draft law, but lost after nearly 70 percent of Kenyans approved it.

On his tour of Coast, Dr Ruto urged women to oppose the referendum as proposed by ODM leader Raila Odinga and backed by President Kenyatta.

Gender rule

"There are a lot of debates in Kenya currently, but if there is one issue that must be of priority that must come above all other issues are matters to do with two-third gender rule, which is a constitutional requirement," he told beneficiaries of a programme by United Nations Population Funds at Burhaniya Grounds.

Dr Ruto’s visit comes at a time when Orange party’s support in Coast is on shaky ground following divisions over the county revenue sharing formula, after Mr Odinga backed a proposal that will see some counties lose cash.

Dr Ruto also fired back to his critics in Jubilee who have asked him to quit the party, saying those who are opposed to his candidature should leave instead. Uasin Gishu Woman Rep Gladys Shollei, Former Mombasa Senator Omar Hassan, former Nominated Senator Emma Mbura, former Kisauni MP Anannia Mwaboza are among leaders who accompanied Dr Ruto.

Mombasa Senator Mohammed Faki, who has opposed the revenue sharing formula proposed by the Commission on Revenue Allocation, met with DP Ruto.