Kenya:Youths vow to shut down the BBI as the Bill overshoot threshold in County Assemblies

By Samuel Ouma

A section of youths have disclosed that they will vote against the Building Bridge Initiative (Amendment) Bill 2020.

The youths allied to the deputy president William Ruto said their decision to oppose the document was arrived at after realizing that the document has nothing to offer to young people and ordinary citizens.

They described the BBI as the document by politicians for politicians.

Their reactions came just a few hours after the Bill surpassed the 24 county threshold.

As of noon on Tuesday, 28 Counties had voted for the BBI constitutional amendment bill, and more were expected to endorse it.

The 16 counties gave the document the green light on Tuesday morning. They included Mombasa, Kakamega, Makueni, Narok, Nakuru, Kirinyaga, Taita Taveta, Nyamira, and Bungoma. Others are Machakos, Kitui, Lamu, Garissa, Murang’a, Nyeri, and Nyandarua.

They joined Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Busia, Vihiga, Trans Nzoia, Nairobi, Kisii, West Pokot, Kajiado, Laikipia, and Samburu that had already voted for the document, paving the way for the Bill to be introduced to the National and Assembly the Senate. So far, only Baringo County has opposed the Bill.

The news of the Bill being approved by the County assemblies did not move the youths who claimed the government had sidelined them when it comes to state appointments. They alleged the ward representatives were coerced and bribed to support BBI.

"After bribing them with a car grant, let's see if ul manage to bribe over 20million voters at the ballot. All in all, we will have the final say," said Erick Hassan Ogutu.

“How foolish...they have dealt with a few puppets. How shameful will it be after being rejected by the great people of Kenya,” reiterated Wachira Freddie.

"Approving to get car grants at the expense of 47 million Kenyans. History will judge us harshly,” reacted Mugai Ian.

Plans to have countrywide tours to sell the referendum message to citizens are underway, said the BBI secretariat.

"From March 1, we are rolling out countrywide tours to take BBI to the people. With all the signs that the assemblies will pass the document by a big number, we will be rolling out grand plans to tell the people what is in the document and counter any propaganda out there," the Nation quoted Junet Mohamed, the BBI secretariat co-chairman.