MEET KENYAN LAWYERS WHO STOPPED BBI REGGAE

On Thursday, May 13, a five-judge bench of the High Court delivered a unanimous judgment declaring the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) unconstitutional, null, and void.

The petition to stop the amendment to the 2010 Constitution was filed by several like-minded Kenyans who stated they would like to protect it from erosion.

In their submissions, they argued the political class intended to subvert the constitution’s core values and principles for their own benefit.

Here is a lists some of the Kenyans who filed the petition opposing the BBI process.

  1. Okiya Omtatah
    Okiya Omtatah is a vocal Kenyan human rights activist and an engineer by profession.

The 57-year-old is always at the forefront to challenge unconstitutional decisions in court.

Omtatah filed a petition in December 2019 seeking to have the BBI task force declared unconstitutional and the whole process quashed.

He filed the case alongside Katiba Institute and the Muslim for Human Rights (MUHURI).

  1. David Ndii
    David Ndii is a Kenyan economist, columnist, and author.

He was a strategist of the defunct National Super Alliance in the 2017 elections but has now joined hands with Deputy President William Ruto.

The renowned economist filed the petition challenging the implementation of BBI alongside Jerotich Seii, James Ngondi, Wanjiku Gikonyo, and Ikal Angelei on September 16, 2020.

  1. Jerotich Seii
    She is the daughter of popular former army general John Seii who was a member of the BBI task force and a coordinator of the Kalenjin Myoot council of Elders.

Jerotich has been active in opposing the whole BBI process both on social media platforms and in courts.

She is a member of the Linda Katiba Movement which is a coalition of Kenyan patriots dedicated to advancing the Kenyan people’s struggle for freedom, equality, prosperity, and just government.

  1. Ciru Gikonyo
    Ciru is the national coordinator, The Institute for Social Accountability.

She is also an advocate for accountable, inclusive local governance and active citizenship.

The governance practitioner claimed BBI is an instrument of warfare against Kenya’s democracy and gains of the constitution of Kenya.

  1. Ikal Angelei
    Angelei is a Kenyan politician and environmentalist.

She was born in Kitale is the founder of the organization, Friends of Lake Turkana which campaigns for environmental justice in the region around Lake Turkana.

She argued BBI was not a solution to problems facing Kenyans and noted the political elite did not care for ordinary citizens.

  1. James Gondi
    Gondi is a rule of law analyst focusing on international humanitarian law, human rights, and transitional justice.

He previously served as the program adviser at Africa Center for Open Governance (AfriCOG) from November 2012 to Jan 2017.

Local media had reported that behind the petitions to stop the BBI process was a list of seasoned lawyers who successfully argued their case before a five-judge bench.
Some of the lawyers included Nelson Havi, Waikwa Wanyoike, Korir Sing’oei, Esther Ang’awa, and Charles Kanjama.

Sourced from Tuko

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