INSIDE UHURU AND RUTO’S 3 HOUR CLOSED DOOR MEETING

Yesterday President Uhuru and his Deputy had a three hour closed door meeting ahead of the final BBI phase.

Sources indicate that the two discussed the ongoing BBI debate and how Ruto’s concerns can be accommodated before the process moves further.

Ruto at Bomas and in subsequent meetings had called for key issues that he wanted to be rectified or included at the BBI.

Uhuru has been receptive about the idea of the BBI going through further amendments while his handshake partner has maintained that the window for any amendments is over.

According to the Star, the meeting might have been triggered by Uhuru’s previous meeting with religious leaders.

“The religious leaders told the President to work closely with his deputy to ensure that the country is not plunged into a political crisis over the BBI and the possible approaching referendum,” one source said.

The religious leaders have always maintained that for BBI to bring unity, the Deputy President has to be included in the process. It’s ironical for BBI to preach inclusiveness and unity while it isolates certain people they reason.

“They told the President that the more Ruto appears isolated, the more his agenda of uniting Kenyans appear to just be talk,” another source said.

This, as the national secretariat said the BBI signature drive launch had been postponed.

It said the postponement was occasioned by late completion and publication of the Constitution Amendment Bill 2020.

It seems the BBI at the end might give more political mileage to Ruto than Raila. He has lobbied for amendments that will directly benefit the common man. While in Wajir meeting county MCAs he talked about the need for consensus in BBI dialogue.

“…so that we can build a consensus on the report. A divisive referendum process cannot be used to achieve a united country,” he said.

He added: “We must at the moment prioritise the health of our people and focus on countering the effects of Covid-19.”

Ruto further added that Kenya is not ready for a divisive referendum. “If we are trying to sort out the problem of divisive elections leading to a divided country via BBI, why then are we after a divisive referendum that would end up tearing apart the country?” he posed.

He maintained that the document must undergo further amendments. “Those driving the BBI should not tell Kenyans that they have no time for further amendments. If we cannot enrich the document, then we would end up with a bad constitution because its work was entirely unprofessional,” he said.

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