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Mt Kenya governors say they’ll speak with one voice on BBI

Governors Mutahi Kahiga and Anne Waiguru
President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Mt Kenya backyard will take a common stand on the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) recommendations before end of the month after an attempt to convene a meeting last December failed.
The 10 governors of Embu, Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Laikipia, Nakuru, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Meru, Murang’a and Tharaka-Nithi have announced that they will spearhead a regional leaders’ conference so that they can speak in one voice.
Speaking at Nairobi’s Panafric Hotel on Monday, the governors said they will invite like-minded leaders from the region for the planned consultative forum where issues like the amendment on the current system of government will be debated.
COMMON POSITION
“We support the BBI but we have some desired amendments (in its recommendations). We will take a common position on it after having a discussion as a region,” Nyandarua Governor Francis Kimemia said.
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru said the leaders are also preparing a memorandum on the issues they want captured in the second phase of the public participation and the final report.
“We want our views to be incorporated because we believe BBI will make lives better for central Kenya people. We will also distribute the booklets,” said Ms Waiguru who is an ardent advocate of the return of the office of prime minister with two deputies.
According to her, this will distribute positions at the national executive to various communities unlike now when the presidency is shared between two communities only.
EXPANDED EXECUTIVE
She is also of the view that with an expanded executive will enhance national cohesion and representation of regions at the helm of the country where major decisions are made.
Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga told the critics of the BBI process to join its proponents and fight while inside.
“As a region, we must be in the BBI process. We have to join them and fight for the interests of our region while inside. We cannot fight for our welfare while outside the exercise; we must join them,” stated Mr Kahiga.
His comments came after a widespread fear that with the current system of governance, the region is likely to be out of the post-2022 government despite its numerical strength in voting.
POLITICAL GROUPINGS
The governors also condemned political formations in the region saying this has led to physical confrontations, mostly in Nyeri and Murang’a counties.
In December, Mt Kenya leaders had planned a meeting to discuss and adopt a common position on the BBI report but it was cancelled at the last minute after politicians allied to Deputy President William Ruto scuttled the plan.
The meeting called by Mt Kenya Foundation at Ole Sereni hotel in Nairobi was met with opposition from the Tangatanga group because the organisers were viewed as leaning towards the Kieleweke faction which enjoys State House backing.
Last week, ODM leader Raila Odinga launched the first regional BBI consultative meeting in Kisii County, which was the start of taking the discussion to the grassroots.

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