Governor Ole Lenku, Maa leaders support BBI report

Leaders from the Maa Community have endorsed the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report and promised to rally the public behind it ahead of the planned referendum next year.

Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku, who is also the Chairman of the BBI in the South Rift region, on Monday led a section of leaders from the community at a presser in Nairobi where they endorsed the document.

The Governor was early this year appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga to lead the BBI teams in Kajiado, Narok, Samburu and Laikipia Counties.

On Monday, Mr Lenku said the community resolved to back the BBI report since it “proposes an increase of county allocations to 35 per cent which will ensure the success of devolution due to provision of adequate resource to counties.”

“The report has good clauses particularly in regards to devolution and those that bring the nation together,” said the Governor who was flanked by his deputy Martin Moshisho, former Kajiado Senator Peter Mositet and former Nairobi Assembly Speaker Alex Ole Magelo among other leaders.

Planned referendum

Mr Lenku pointed out that the BBI document will bring a new dawn to Kenya.

“It will enhance inclusivity of Kenyans and through the Ward allocation fund, further ensure that resources reach the grassroot,” he said.

He urged Maa leaders, including MCAs and opinion leaders, to join the bandwagon, adding that the drive is not meant to leave behind some people.

“Those with dissenting opinions, we agree there are some areas that may require strengthening. Let us talk to one another so that we make this conversation better for all of us.”

He said they will henceforth start the journey to popularise the document ahead of the planned plebiscite next year, as it emerged during President Kenyatta and Mr Odinga’s meeting with at least 300 parliamentarians in Naivasha on Monday.

The legislators drawn from the Senate and the National Assembly on Monday said they had broken down the contents of the BBI report and resolved to support it ahead of the planned referendum. 

Mr Lenku said whereas there may have been certain proposals that did not make it to the final report, its contents are positive and should be supported.

“Not everything was going to be in the report based on the regions, tribes or social interest groups. But those that have been captured are for the good of Kenyans and must be supported,” he said.

Mr Moshisho, Mr Mositet and Mr Magelo vowed to rally the community behind the document.