More counties this afternoon joined their predecessors in passing the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) constitutional amendment Bill.
Mombasa on Tuesday joined other County Assemblies in passing the bill during the vote in a session that started at 10 am and presided by the Speaker Harub Khatri, members of the county assembly unanimously voted amendment bill 2020.
During the debate of the bill, the MCA’s praised the report saying the Coast region stands to benefit immensely from the proposed constitutional amendments.
The Chairperson of the Assembly’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee Amriya Boy said most of the region’s demands have been captured in the Constitutional Referendum Bill 2020.
Amriya also confirmed that the residents were fully sensitized and their views captured during public participation forums that took place in all the six sub-counties.
Other counties in the Coast region which on Tuesday also approved the BBI Bill are Taita Taveta and Lamu. Three others Kwale, Kilifi and Tana River are expected to pass the Bill following its huge support from respective county assemblies.
62 Members of the Nakuru County Assembly voted to pass the Bill while 11 opposed it during a session chaired by speaker Joel Kariuki.
Governor Lee Kinyanjui said leaders from the region have committed to support the process which the BBI will bring forth since the recommendations already fronted will ultimately offer a solution to the problems ailing the country.
“We have taken up the task to mobilize registered voters throughout the county to help actualize the constitutional amendment in the forthcoming Referendum,” Mr Kinyanjui said.
Elsewhere in Kitui the 54 member Assembly voted at exactly 11 am to approve the Constitution Amendment Bill saying the gains contained in the document anchored devolution revenue sharing formula among counties.
The restless members did not want to belabour the motion tabled before the house by Majority Leader Peter Kilonzo and asked the Speaker George Ndotto to dispense with the Bill.
The determination of Kirinyaga governor Anne Waiguru in support of the BBI initiative has borne fruits with the Assembly unanimously approving the document.
The Assembly passed the BBI thereby bringing to an end the acrimony which has been prevailing amongst proponents and opponents of the document from the area.
Tebere MCA Gudson Muchina who moved the motion to pass the document said out of the 7024 memoranda the Assembly has received after public participation, only two residents were opposed to the Initiative.
He said the overwhelming “yes vote” the document had received from the area residents was testimony Kenyans were for the proposed constitutional change.
Meru County Assembly floor was filled with joy after the Speaker Joseph Kaberia declared the BBI report bill passed by a majority of the MCAs.
The bill was accorded over 95 percent where only 2 MCAs out of the 45 members of the county assembly had a different opinion and voted against the report.
Speaking on behalf of governor Kiraitu Murugi on the decision taken by the county assembly, county chief of staff, Gideon Kimathi congratulated the MCAS for taking the most appropriate direction towards giving the public an opportunity to further scrutinize the BBI report ahead of participating in a referendum in due cause.
Kimathi said supporting the BBI had nothing to do with the 2022 general elections, adding that leaders had an obligation to sober up and assist the public understand the need to strengthen devolution by increasing funds and other resources to the counties for fast track community development and prosperity.
by KNA Team
