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BBI needs blessings from Parliament, said Kioni

Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni
The parliamentary committee which was expected to be tasked with implementing the report to be written by the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) said the task force was unconstitutional because it did not have the support and legal framework.

In what could be an obstacle for President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga in implementing the findings of the task force, chairman of the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC) Jeremiah Kioni also said that BBI's public hearings conducted since last year were illegal.

PARLIAMENT

Mr Kioni, who is also a member of parliament Ndaragwa, said the BBI team, even though it was a sheet, had to go through Parliament from the start to carry out its activities and report the final offer legally.

According to Mr Kioni, the 12-member team created the impression that there would be a referendum without telling Kenya what was being amended in the constitution.

CIOC will likely be tasked with examining the BBI's report and findings before being submitted to Parliament for debate.


"We can have a period of polarization that can be avoided by using parliamentary committees," the MP said, adding that the task force failed to determine to Kenya what it wanted to achieve in a public hearing.

The task force across all 47 counties gathered views on the political challenges facing the country.

INVALID

But Kioni said the meeting was not a legal public participation session.

In speaking to the Nation by telephone on Sunday, MP observed that although there was a general feeling that there must be an amendment to the constitution, there was no consensus on what should be amended.

"I warn Kenyans that trying to change the constitution, even when starting people's initiatives, outside the people's representatives (Parliament) will most likely fail. The BBI recommendation has a chance if it is diverted through Parliament, "said Mr Kioni.

The MP said that major constitutional amendments must seek to unite the country through changes in the structure of government.

"The main problem now that we can handle is switching from a presidential system to a parliamentary system. Such a system will bring a lot of inclusiveness. Another problem is the executive mandate to elect Cabinet ministers from Parliament. That will bring inclusiveness. All communities will feel involved, "MP said.

VETTING

He said if the BBI's task force recommends for constitutional changes, Parliament must examine them and issue their own decision.

"Amendments to the constitution must have public participation. I want to say this at the right time, BBI is not public participation. The public participates in things they know. At BBI, we don't know what we are taking, "he said.

His sentiments were echoed by Chuka / Igamba MP Ngombe Patrick Munene who said the task force, with a budget of 10 billion Shre, was an illegal group and Parliament would question its activities.

"When you need to hear opinions from Kenya, you have to follow constitutional channels. Use Parliament for budget allocation and set a question framework. For BBI, their audience questions and framework were never approved, "said Munene.

The task force, led by Senator Garissa Yusuf Haji, will submit its report and recommendations to President Kenyatta and Mr. Odinga before the end of September.

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