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BBI debate should be done with tolerance and respect - Murkomen

Elgeyo Marakwet senator Kipchumba Murkomen
Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen has told opposition leader Raila Odinga to publicly denounce violence before the release of BBI.
Murkomen took to Twitter on Friday and said, "Before receiving the BBI report on Tuesday, I am hoping the former PM will have issued a public apology for presiding over and/or acquiescing in the Kibra violence."
"Failure to do so will make BBI another exercise founded on hypocrisy. He must lead by example not mere lip service."
Chairman of the task force Senator Yusuf Haji said the team had secured an appointment with President Uhuru Kenyatta for handover.
Haji said the report will cover what the team collected across the country.
Haji added that the task force was able to collect views from more than 400 elected leaders and Kenyans in the 47 counties.
But Murkomen, also the Senate Majority leader, said Raila must lead as an example and disassociate himself with violence if that is what the BBi project is all about.
He said the BBI debate should be done with tolerance and respect .
"There are those who have a problem from the beginning on matters processes. There are those who even don’t like the word BBI. Yet there are those who support without reading and won't read. Like the President said, let’s do it with honour and humility," he said. 
Murkomen's sentiments is an echo of Deputy President William Ruto who has maintained that Raila should publicly condemn the violence that saw some Jubilee MPs roughed up.
Ruto accused Raila of using militia to cause chaos in the by-election that saw ODM's candidate win with a landslide.
Ruto said it was sad that though Raila and his brigade are advocating for the Building Bridges Initiative under the handshake, they had not learnt any lessons.
 "The only strategy and structure Tinga's party had which largely succeeded was, violence, chaos, mayhem and terror meted out by organised Baba's militia the same instruments used by terrorists organisations including outlawed groups," Ruto wrote on his twitter page.
He added, "How sad they have learnt nothing from handshake!".
These sentiments saw Murkomen caught up in a bitter exchange with Tiaty MP William Kamket.
Kamket said Ruto was unable to plant a seed in the Kibra by-elections after Jubilee's McDonald Mariga lost to ODM's Imran Okoth.
But in a swift rejoinder, Murkomen, who is also the Senate Majority Leader defended the DP saying he had done his best.
Meanwhile, President Uhuru has  urged MPs to go through the BBI report before criticising it.
Speaking during the fourth Kibabii University graduation on Friday, he said there are some politicians who poke holes into the report and yet they did not know what it contained.
 Uhuru said the BBI report will be available for every Kenyan to look at.
The task force was formed on March 9 last year after Uhuru and Raila shook hands with a view of ending hostility among Kenyans.
The nine issues include ethnicism, lack of national ethos, inclusivity, devolution, divisive elections, security, corruption, shared prosperity and responsibilities and rights.
The team of 14 members include Adams Oloo - the chairperson, Agnes Kavindu, Senator Amos Wako, Florence Omose, Saeed Mwanguni, James Matundura among others.

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