You are late on BBI, Raila tells Ruto as he receives signatures
ODM leader Raila Odinga (left) with BBI secretariat co-chairman Dennis Waweru on December 4, 2020 in Nairobi. Mr Odinga received the five million collected signatures.
What you need to know:
- Mr Odinga termed the DP’s camp as an insincere lot, which failed to give their views to the BBI taskforce for two years but are now giving conditions on what should be done.
ODM leader Raila Odinga yesterday dismissed Deputy President William Ruto over his calls for consensus on the Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2020, saying the fate of the document now lies with the people and not individual leaders.
Mr Odinga asked DP Ruto to respect the views of the five million people who appended their signatures in support of the referendum, an indication that there is no room for any further consultation
“Let us respect the five million Kenyans who support the proposals. And let us respect the millions of others who are waiting out there to vote for or against the document in the referendum.
“We must allow Kenyans to have their say and their way because nobody can speak for the people of Kenya better than the people themselves,” Mr Odinga said.
“Throughout this process, the people have spoken. Please let the people continue speaking for themselves. Let the people decide the fate of this document and the changes it proposes to introduce. It is the people’s document now. President Uhuru Kenyatta and I have absolute faith in the ability of the people to make the right decision if they are given the facts and the space,” said Mr Odinga at the Building Bridges Initiative secretariat in Nairobi.
Constitutional amendments
The ODM chief said the leaders opposing constitutional amendments are the same ones that opposed the 2010 constitution.
Those present in yesterday’s event were BBI secretariat co-chairs Junet Mohamed and Dennis Waweru, National Assembly majority leader Amos Kimunya, Senate minority leader James Orengo, his minority counterpart John Mbadi, Woman reps Gathoni Wamuchomba (Kiambu),Fatuma Gedi (Wajir) and Rachel Nyamai (Kitui South) and ODM Treasurer Timothy Bosire, among other regional coordinators.
Mr Odinga termed the DP’s camp as an insincere lot, which failed to give their views to the BBI taskforce for two years but are now giving conditions on what should be done.
“There are others out there who opposed this document even during its launch at Bomas but now they are telling us that we need to talk, talk about what? Time has lapsed,” Mr Odinga said.
He also dismissed calls by the DP to have a non-contested referendum, saying those opposing the document must be given their right to do so at the ballot.
“There is nothing like non-contested referendum. Referendum by its nature entails those opposing it and those supporting it,” Mr Odinga said.
Five million signatures
He pointed out that the collection of five million signatures in a week signals a very strong seal of approval of the process and the expected results of the final document.
He said they will soon take the signatures to IEBC for verification as required by law.
“We expect the IEBC to equally move with speed as Kenyans have done and release the process to the next stage, which is taking the signatures to the county assemblies.
“Then we will come to Parliament and then back to the people by way of referendum," Mr Odinga said.
Mr Mbadi said the BBI document provides the perfect opportunity for President Kenyatta and Mr Odinga to take the country to the promised land.
Mr Bosire said the DP was dishonest in his arguments on BBI.
Ms Wamuchomba said the 793,135 signatures collected from Mt Kenya is an indication that the region strongly supports BBI.
Mr Mohamed said the five million signatures should send a strong message to the DP’s camp that President Kenyatta and Mr Odinga have the numbers.
