There is room for non-divisive BBI vote, DP Ruto says

Deputy President William Ruto has maintained that there is still room for building consensus on the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), hours after President Kenyatta launched collection of one million signatures for referendum.

DP Ruto, in a tweet, said that it was possible to have referendum free of "us versus them, win versus lose" contest..

He made the remarks after President Kenyatta, together with his handshake colleague Raila Odinga, presided over the launch of the collection of the signatures.

The event took place at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC), Nairobi and was also attended by several political leaders.

DP Ruto snubbed the event and his name was not on the programme as he was not lined up to speak.

The second in command instead chose to express himself through social media.

DP Ruto and his lieutenants have been calling for consensus, before a referendum is held, arguing that it will save the country unnecessary divisions.

In the past weeks, since the BBI report was unveiled in Kisii County, the DP has been asking leaders not to use BBI to divide Kenyans by railroading them to choose sides and instead accommodate divergent views.

Wednesday's launch of one million BBI signatures collection technically shuts the door on further amendments to the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

Dr Ruto jetted back into Kenya on Sunday, November 22, after a four-day private business-cum-family trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

He has maintained that the BBI will result in a lose-lose situation unless it is done through an uncontested referendum.

However, pro-BBI leaders including Mr Odinga, have maintained that there is no such thing as an uncontested referendum, and instead asked those who want changes to settle their scores at the ballot.