Murang’a senator Irungu Kang’ata has once again reiterated that the Building Bridges Initiative(BBI) report is not popular in Mount Kenya region.
Speaking in a Murang’a church Sunday, the senator stated that people of the region have some pertinent issues to be addressed before they accept the BBI.
He said matters to do with coffee and tea which are the main cash crops in the region, have been marred by numerous challenges over the years and local farmers think they should be given the first priority before any clamour for constitutional amendments.
Kang’ata who is also the senate majority chief whip defended himself on the letter he allegedly wrote to the president saying it only captured the truth of the matter on the ground.
“I just stated the plain truth for the president to know and to take remedial action. People in the mountain region want some bedeviling problems to be addressed first and the BBI process to come the second,” said Kang’ata while speaking at AIPCA Kangaara church in Gitugi Mathioya Sub County.
He continued to say, “people from the central region want problems facing coffee and tea sectors addressed as a matter of urgency for them to have money in their pockets.”
However, Kang’ata said that he still respects the President, but his duties as the Senate Chief Whip should encompass telling the ruling party leader the actual truth on what the people really wanted at the grassroots. “I will continue telling the truth without fear or favour,” added the embattled senator.
Kang’ata claimed that there were plans to remove him from his current majority chief whip position at the Senate, but he alluded to the fact whether he is removed or not, he shall continue with the same unwavering stand.
“They want to fire me for speaking the truth of the matter, but even if they do so, I will forever remain thankful for the honour I was given to serve at the senate leadership position but I will not recant the letter,” he said.
Kang’ata added that unless the BBI report is properly popularized in the region by leaders from across the political divide, it may not see the light of the day.
“Unless we see major political party leaders like the president himself, Moses Wetang’ula, Musalia Mudavadi, Kalonzo Musyoka, Dr.William Ruto and Raila Odinga in the forefront drumming up support for the process then it will not sail through,” he reiterated.
But Mathioya MP Peter Kimari speaking at the same occasion, said the BBI secretariat is already in the process of printing one million BBI copies so that area residents can read its proposals and see for themselves the massive gains they stand to get, once the envisaged constitutional Amendment Bill goes through and is finally assented into law.
He called on his electorate to support BBI, failure to which Mathioya Constituency risks being scrapped off as it is one of the protected areas of representation.
Kimari also defended the handshake deal between President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition chief Raila Odinga saying DP Ruto is to blame for the President’s action.
“Some people argue that Dr. Ruto has been excluded in the BBI push but I wish to state that it was him who ran away by failing to obey his boss,” he said.
Ends
