Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku has urged Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) to pass the Building Bridges Initiatives (BBI) bill once it is tabled on the floor of the house.
Lenku who was speaking at the assembly Tuesday after it resumed for its 5th session following a long Christmas break, said BBI will ensure equity and equality among all communities as far as national resources are concerned thus promoting peaceful co-existence.
“The Building Bridges Initiative is the brainchild of President Uhuru Kenyatta and the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. We have been categorical that we support the’ Handshake’ between these two nationalists. We believe the initiative is one of the major ingredients of peace in this country,” he said.
He noted that there were several provisions in the BBI that would make a fundamental shift towards enhancing the independence of the legislative arm of Government, and promotion of devolution such as the proposed 35 per cent increase of funds to counties.
The governor added that the bill would enable residents to get more funds for implementation of development programmes, through the introduction of the Ward Development Fund.
The BBI amendment bill is expected to be tabled on the floor of the house on Tuesday next week.
Siaya county assembly on February 3 became the first in the country to approve the BBI amendment bill, followed by Kisumu County which passed the bill on February 9.
Lenku further lauded the assembly for enacting more than 20 laws, compared to the eleven laws passed by the previous administration during its entire five year term.
He said the laws have set out a framework to deal with several matters affecting residents, especially in Administration, Health, Environment, Taxes, Agriculture, Livestock, Water and Land.
“I am delighted that three years since I assumed office, this Assembly has enacted more than 20 laws. This working relationship has been critical as it eliminates unnecessary friction which slows down our development agenda and blurs our focus as a Government,” said Lenku.
He urged all elected leaders to desist from hate speech and violence and concentrate on service delivery, rather than campaigning for elective seats as the 2022 general elections was still months away.
“I wish to remind our leaders that the next general election is a whole eighteen months away. It is out of order to engage in violence or hate speech under the guise of seeking elective positions,” he said.
by Rop Janet
