DP allies change tune, vow to participate in BBI events
Deputy President William Ruto’s allies, who have been accused of being critical of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) yesterday said they will from this weekend henceforth attend the regional meetings to popularise the taskforce’s report.
They said after skipping two such forums—in Kisii and Kakamega counties led by Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga and pro-Handshake politicians— they will henceforth fully “participate and contribute towards the success of the already organised BBI rallies across the country”.
But they cautioned against the use public resources for the BBI rallies, unless Parliament or County Assemblies appropriates it, saying it should be done on voluntary basis.
And the stage is set for what is likely to be high octane gathering for the Ruto and Raila allies at Coast region forum at Mama Ngina Grounds, Mombasa county.
The DP allies coalescing under the Tanga Tanga faction of the Jubilee Party have been claiming BBI is meant to shortchange the DP and scuttle his 2022 State House ambitions.
Majority Leader
In a statement read on their behalf by Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen at a city hotel, the leaders said they will also organise other complementary rallies cross the country to populalise the document which has fueled divisions within the governing party.
“To support existing efforts and complement the already scheduled rallies, we are organizing rallies in other parts of the country.
We shall soon announce the calendar of complimentary rallies to reinforce those already published. To these rallies, everybody irrespective of political opinion is invited,” they said.
After the Mombasa county meeting, the pro-BBI lieutenants, who have blessings of President Uhuru Kenyatta, will converge in Embu, Garissa and Wote in Makueni.
The leaders who were present during the press conference, included Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika, Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho), MPs Moses Kuria (Gatundu North), Kimani Ichung’wa (Kikuyu), Alice Wahome (Kandara), Caleb Kositany (Soy), Benjamin Washiali (Mumias East), John Waluke (Sirisia) and Victor Munyaka (Machakos Town).
Politically motivated
Aware that their new move might be seen to be politically motivated, Murkomen, who is also the Elgeyo Marakwet Senator, said they will mobilise people in favour of the document, adding that they “intend to fully participate in related engagements in good faith”.
Their participation, he said, will see them mobilise their constituents “using own resources” so that they can present views “as soon as the taskforce gazettes by government announces their full schedule”.
