MT KENYA REJECTS BBI

Muranga Senator Irungu Kang’ata has warned President Uhuru Kenyatta that Building Bridges Initative (BBI) referendum might fail in Mt Kenya unless he and his handshake partner Raila change their strategy.

In a bold letter to the President, the Senate Majority Whip said that he has come to the conclusion that BBI is unpopular in Mt Kenya and Uhuru risks being left with egg on his face should the referendum be conducted.

According to Kang’ata, the involvement of provincial administration and former MPs in the BBI process was contributing to its unpopularity.

The Senator also cautioned the president from using hard tactics and forcing chiefs and county administrators to popularize BBI.

He further told the President that the use national government officers to popularize the initiative could pass as “use of state’s hard power to force its citizens to endorse BBI.”

“The role of the provincial administration & other forms of hard tactics in BBI mobilization is being framed as an example of government using its hard power to force citizens to endorse BBI. I propose we find ways of government wears velvet gloves.”

“Let us emphasize on the soft power and art of persuasion. In my humble view, the provincial administration in BBI process should be invisible,” he tells Kenyatta.

The Senate Majority Whip said the BBI risks suffering “spectacular defeat” if the President does not take immediate steps for a charm offensive.

He wants Kenyatta to take charge of marketing BBI in Mt Kenya region, saying the current campaign is uncoordinated.

The senator revealed that a bulk of the six that support the report were women and the youth. He stated that a majority of men above the age of 60 support the report, however, highlighting the report’s popularity was not in proportion with education levels.

“Your excellency, I concede, I may be wrong. In fact, I wish I was wrong and that my views are merely pessimistic view of things. However, if I am right and we do not take urgent remedial measures, I will pin myself permanently in the pillar of spectacular shame,” Kang’ata stated.

He further argues that Jubilee’s performance in the Nairobi governor race will also greatly impact the BBI.

“A possible loss by our party’s candidate will have not-so-good political consequences that will permeate into BBI and possibly torpedo it,” he said.

He wants the President to personally intervene, as a matter of urgency, and bend backwards as the Jubilee implosion has had an effect on BBI.

“Efforts need to be made to rally regionally all MPs irrespective of their political factions behind this cause.”

Kang’ata has also recommended the use of multiple-choice referendum to insure against possible total rejection of the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment), Bill 2020.

Sourced from The Kenyan Herald

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