Confusion has rocked Deputy President William Ruto’s camp after some proposals it had opposed were dropped by the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) team, sending the DP’s side scrambling to clothe the resistance in new narratives.
While the DP’s allies have been outspoken when contacted for comment on the BBI’s proposed constitutional reforms, yesterday, some of the vocal lawmakers interviewed were unusually reluctant to discuss their next course of action and those who spoke appeared to send mixed signals.
But there are those who still maintain their opposition, albeit introducing regional grievances.
The lack of a clear direct line of attack that the camp had sustained in the days leading up to the release of the draft constitutional amendment Bill on Wednesday was apparent, suggesting that the team had not yet fashioned a common response to the latest developments.
The DP had expressed his reservations on a proposal to have parliamentary political parties participate in the appointment of the electoral commissioners, expansion of the executive, establishment of the National Police Council packed with presidential appointees and creation of the Office of the Judiciary Ombudsman, another appointee of the President.
He had also pushed for the strengthening of the Senate to have effective oversight on county governments.
The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2020 addressed some of the DP’s misgivings. For instance, the proposal to have parliamentary parties have a role in the appointment of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioners was dropped as was that on creating a police council.
The office of the Judiciary Ombudsman is now also proposed to be held by an individual nominated by the President but with Senate’s approval. The Senate will also approve the nomination of the Controller of Budget.
The Senate’s role has also been enhanced, as it will determine the allocation of national revenue among counties, as provided in Article 217, and exercise oversight on revenue allocated to, raised by, or otherwise received by county governments and their expenditure.
With such concession, the drivers of the BBI initiative had hoped there would be a compromise, but the DP has stuck to his guns, insisting on further consensus. His camp is in a state of confusion if the silence by some of his key lieutenants on their next cause of action is anything to go by.
Yesterday, Jubilee Deputy Secretary-General Caleb Kositany, MP’s Kimani Ichung’wah (Kikuyu), Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu), Alice Wahome (Kandara), Nelson Koech (Belgut) and Daniel Rono (Keiyo South) maintained an unfamiliar silence when reached by the Nation on their next cause of action now that the signature collection exercise has kicked off.
Earlier on Wednesday, a tweet circulated purportedly by Jubilee Nominated Senator Millicent Omanga, a Ruto ally, indicated her support for the BBI Bill, saying, the contentious issues had been addressed. The legislator, denied sending the tweet.
“I’ve reported the illegal impersonation and mischievous intrusion of my Twitter account to the authorities and I demand an immediate action. I’ve my views on BBI which I'll share with Kenyans as I’ve always done. Kindly disregard the previous tweet as it wasn’t made by me,” Ms Omanga wrote.
Even as confusion reigned in the Tangatanga camp, other members rooted for consensus while some vowed to flatly oppose the initiative.
Former National Assembly Majority Chief Whip Benjamin Washiali and ex-Machakos Senator Johnston Muthama said they wouldn’t be party to a bloated House following the increase of the number of constituencies to 360 from 290 and inclusion of additional special seats. Mr Washiali, however, suggested they may not directly oppose the “President’s initiative because he is still our party leader but we will push for consensus to the report.”
Mr Muthama insisted that they cannot accept to be dictated to “on views that did not come from Kenyans like the expansion of the executive and electoral units.”
“It was important to ask Kenyans how they want to go, whether for additional counties or constituencies,” Mr Muthama said.
Kuria West MP Mathias Robi and his Kimilili counterpart Didmus Barasa vowed to join the ‘No’ camp in the referendum drive.
“In Kuria, we had wanted an additional county to end our marginalisation in Migori, but unfortunately, we have not even got a constituency and now we are automatically in the ‘No’ camp,” Mr Robi said.
Mr Barasa also vowed to lead the ‘No’ campaign in Bungoma County, arguing, the document does not provide solutions to the problems facing the common man.
The first-term lawmaker said most of the issues which are going to be subjected to a referendum can be dealt with through legislation.
“The report does not provide solutions to delayed justice for the people of Kenya. Kenyans will never fight if there is equitable distribution of resources and revenue irrespective of who is in power,” Mr Barasa said.
