BBI is unstoppable, Raila tells court

ODM leader Raila Odinga has said the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) process was unstoppable and wants cases challenging it dismissed.

In response to at least five petitions seeking to stop county assemblies from debating and approving the Constitutional (Amendment) Bill, the former prime minister yesterday said those opposing the process are hypocritical and do not mean well for the country.

Through lawyer Paul Mwangi, Raila and the BBI Steering Committee argued that the petitions are an abuse of the court process meant to interfere with a legal process that has taken too long to achieve.

“Their intention is to drag the process and pre-empt the outcome of a legislative process that is being undertaken by the county assemblies. Their applications to stop the process are incompetent and devoid of any merit,” said Mwangi.

Mwangi denied claims that public funds were being wasted to ensure passage of the Bill at the counties, stating that the petitioners will not suffer any harm if the MCAs, Senate and National Assembly are allowed to do their legislative duty.

Among those seeking to stop the county assemblies from debating the BBI Bill are Law Society of Kenya, Turkana County Assembly, Thirdway Alliance Party and several activists, led by economist David Ndii.