Why Raila moved BBI rally from Tononoka to Mama Ngina Waterfront
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga has announced that tomorrow’s Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) meeting will be held at Mama Ngina Waterfront Park and not Tononoka grounds as scheduled earlier.
Organizers of the meeting said Tononoka cannot contain the large crowd that is expected from both the Tanga Tanga and Kieleweke political groupings.
Security concerns had also been raised after unruly youth disrupted a press conference and threw stones at journalists and Malindi Member of Parliament (MP) Aisha Jumwa and her counterparts from Nyali and Lamu East, Mohammed Ali and Shariff Athman but police have said adequate security will be deployed at the meeting tomorrow.
On Wednesday, Mombasa Govenor Ali Hassan Joho said leaders allied to Deputy President William Ruto were welcome to attend the meeting but will not be given a chance to speak.
However, he condemned today’s attacks saying the act was uncalled for.
“We have to be tolerant of each other because every person’s opinion is important on the proposed report. We do not want any disruptions or interference. We want every voice to be heard,” Joho said.
Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen said leaders allied to Ruto will attend the meeting. His statement comes after the faction within the ruling Jubilee Party snubbed previous regional consultative meetings in Kisii and Kakamega Counties accusing Odinga of politicizing the meetings to champion his 2022 agenda.
“After consultations, we have decided to contribute towards the success of the already organized BBI rallies across the country starting with Mombasa. The BBI should be all-inclusive and give Kenyans a chance to give their views. We will therefore participate and where necessary take charge of these rallies,” Murkomen said.
“As we join the rallies, we intend to redirect the BBI conversation that has taken a political approach and deal with issues such as unemployment. We are not opposed to BBI, what we are opposed to is the use of public funds in organizing the rallies,” Murkomen added.
