Mombasa County Assembly has kicked off a series of public participation forums to sensitize residents on the BBI constitutional amendment bill 2020.
The forums took place on Thursday in the sub counties of Mvita, Nyali and Likoni while Kisauni, Changamwe, while Jomvu will hold similar exercise Friday.
Public participation is a legal requirement where the people give their views before a Bill is debated and approved or rejected by the national or county assemblies.
Scores of residents turned up at the Tononoka hall to give their views during a forum organised by the assembly’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee.
The Chair of the committee Amriya Boy said her team will collect the views of the residents during the two-day engagement and compile a report that will be presented to the assembly next week.
“We encourage the residents to come out in large numbers and give their views on the Bill before being debated at the assembly,” said Amriya who is a nominated MCA.
She said those who will not be able to attend in person can send their written memoranda to the assembly clerk before the compilation of the final report.
Member of the County Assembly for Old Town ward Abdalla Amur termed public participation as a legal requirement and asked residents to take advantage of the forums and give their views on the Bill.
Amur rallied the residents to support the BBI process saying the proposed changes have captured their key demands such as historical land issues, equity and increased funding for devolved units.
Most of those who gave their views supported the Bill saying coast region stand to benefit immensely from the proposed amendments.
A youth leader Loyd Otieno said young people in the country are the biggest beneficiaries of the BBI process.
Otieno mentioned tax holidays for investments by youth a significant break from repaying education loans as some of the changes favouring the young people.
by Mohamed Hassan
