LIST OF POLITICIANS ATTENDING DP RUTO’S DECLARATION

Deputy President William Ruto is expected to address the media later on Wednesday, December 2 where he will make a major announcement on matters Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) referendum.

The deputy president is currently meeting more than 150 leaders including Governors and MPS at his Karen home, Nairobi.

The Karen meeting seeks to adopt a common ground on the referendum bill with some quarters saying the group wants to give conditions that will see a ‘No Consensus, No BBI’ situation.

Governors who are attending the meeting included; Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu), Josphat Nanok (Turkana), Stephen Sang (Nandi), and Moses Lenolkulal (Samburu).

While the legislators include Caleb Kositany (Soy), Moses Kuria (Gatundu South), Didmus Barasa (Kimilili), Mohammed Ali (Nyali), Aisha Jumwa (Malindi) and Nominated Senator Millicent Omanga.

On Tuesday, December 1, while speaking in Nakuru during the burial of Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri’s mother, DP Ruto maintained that it’s still possible to achieve consensus even after the signatures collection was launched.

“We must not have winners and losers. We can fashion a win-win and that is possible and it will be possible. I am very confident we will do so together,” the DP said.

Ruto told the mourners that there are politicians dying to turn the referendum into a political contest.

“We have seen the ugly side of divided people and there are politicians, even on this issue of BBI, who are looking on how to divide people into camps so that they compete for certain outcomes. No. Let us look for a way to have all of us united. What will it benefit you to divide us to create enemies when we can agree?” he asked.

There were reports that DP’s camp is split in the middle on whether to support the amended BBI Bill or lead a ‘NO’ campaign.

One group maintaining a hardline stance against any talks on BBI while the second faction considering to through their support behind the amended document.

DP Ruto is also said to have hired a team of experts to break-down the BBI Bill to his camp shortly after President Uhuru Kenyatta and his handshake partner and ODM leader Raila Odinga launched the BBI signature collection drive at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) last week.

Among those who are said to have taken a hardline position in favour of a No campaign include Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki, Elgeyo Marakwet senator Kipchumba Murkomen, Senator Mithika Linturi (Meru) and MPs Alice Wahome (Kandara) and Kimani Inchung’wa (Kikuyu).

While those who consider supporting the document include Senators Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho), Samson Cherargei (Nandi), Christopher Lagat (Bomet), and MPs Didmus Barasa (Kimilili) and Benjamin Washiali (Mumias East).

Sourced from The Kenyan Herald