An aspiring politician based in Mbiuni ward, Mwala sub county is urging the public to rally behind the Building Bridges Initiative(BBI) saying this will help promote peace and tranquility in the country.
Peter Mbuva Kathukya who has intimated he will be running for the Mwala constituency seat in 2022 says apart from devolving additional resources to counties, the changes to the new law will ensure the country remains united even after the polls.
The aspirant, who was addressing the press Wednesday at Mbiuni likewise challenged leaders to be on the forefront in carrying out civic education to help the public familiarize themselves with the document before it is subjected to a plebiscite.
“Let us go to the ballot box with one accord and vote in the new proposals as contained in this document. There is much to benefit from the new proposals that include an increased allocation to counties and creation of additional posts that will address the problem of post poll chaos that have crowned every election,” said Kathukya.
Meanwhile Lower Eastern Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) chairman Sheikh Anas Ali Abdala has warned politicians against what he termed as an attempt to hijack the BBI drive to safeguard their own interests.
He said discussions surrounding the proposed legislations have been marred by incessant wrangles by leaders across the political divide and warned this may kill the original intention of its drafters.
Abdala who is also Machakos Jamia Mosque imam is now asking political leaders to let Kenyans decide for themselves on the merits of the document instead of trying to convince them on the side to vote for.
“The Building Bridges Initiative could have been a far better document had politicians not waded in an effort to preserve their self-interests. This document should not be about sharing out seats but addressing the ills that affect the common mwananchi. Politicians should therefore allow Kenyans to make their decisions on either to accept or reject the final document during the referendum day,” he said.
The cleric has further advised against putting much impetus on the BBI process at the expense of other issues affecting the country such as the Covid-19 pandemic which has left the country’s economy badly battered.
“Let us stop employing all our efforts and resources rooting for BBI and fighting over sharing of positions. We have 44 communities in Kenya and even if we give out seats as recommended in the document, we still have a majority of others who will feel left out. Therefore, let us focus on the challenges currently ailing our country like famine and unemployment and allow Kenyans to decide the fate of the new proposals during the referendum,” emphasized the cleric while addressing the press in Machakos.
By Samuel Maina
