Stop high octane politics on BBI, Mudavadi tells politicians

Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi has cautioned against high octane politics in implementation of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) roadmap.

Mr Mudavadi, who led his ANC party in the official launch of a BBI signature collection exercise on Monday, said it is a product for peace so leaders should embrace one another in the implementation process.

“There is no need for high octane politics. Leaders must embrace unanimity for the good of the country,” he said at the party's headquarters in Nairobi, where the launch took place.

He noted that a contest will lead to a waste of funds as the government will have to give an allocation to the enhancement of security during the process.

“If we embrace one another, there will be no tension. Unanimity will help save funds which can be used for pressing issues in the health docket such as dealing with Covid-19,” the ANC leader said.

“We should not be people always spoiling for a fight by looking for 'small' excuses to start a fight with others,” he added.

The former deputy Prime Minister sensationally claimed that some people, whom he did not name, have become nervous over his support for the BBI Amendment Bill.

“We are glad the changes came after we met President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House with other party leaders. Some had already created a stone wall to cause division and are unhappy that I’m not in the ‘No’ camp,” he said.

This was in apparent reference to ODM leader Raila Odinga’s earlier position that only editorial corrections would be made to the BBI proposal.

Ruto criticised

But even as the ANC leader rooted for unanimity, deputy leader Ayub Savula and Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala took on Deputy President over his uncertain position on the BBI process.

“Ruto should declare his stand on this process. He should tell Kenyans whether he is for or against it because we know he did not attend the State House meeting between the President and party leaders, where the consensus to allow amendments to the BBI Bill was brokered,” Mr Savula said.

Mr Malala said the DP must stop confusing Kenyans on his stand.

“As we form a team for the BBI, we need to know whether he is in our team or is our opponent,” he said,

The senator announced that they have set up semi-autonomous secretariats in regions across the country to spearhead the implementation process.

Mr Malala called on the government printer to produce more BBI documents for distribution to the public so they append their signatures based on the information they already have.

“Out of the four million signatures targeted by the BBI Secretariat, the ANC is targeting to collect at least two million to ensure the success of this Bill,” he said.

Once the signatures collection exercise is completed and the IEBC verifies attainment of the one million signatures required by law, the Bill will be taken to county assemblies.

If at least 24 counties approve the Bill, it will head to both Houses of Parliament and then to President Kenyatta for assent. The IEBC will then be required to conduct a referendum.