Reconciliation key in striking BBI balance

The BBI report was recently launched in a fanfare where leaders rooted for a non-contested plebiscite. As such, the need for an exercise that is devoid of political tension cannot be underscored.

While some leaders and Kenyans have expressed intent to drum up support for the report, others have given indication to oppose it in its entirety or part.

During its launch, the Deputy President William Ruto expressed strong reservations about certain sections of the report and it remains to be seen if he will support the law review.

Be that as it may, certain insinuations attributed the report ought to be put into perspective. The DP, for example, has voiced concern about the idea of giving positions to the political elite at the expense of the mwananchi. The President, however, holds that is erroneous to opine the exercise is meant to reward certain people, saying the proposed changes to the Executive will benefit all.

The document is also not cast in stone and contentious sections are subject to review. As pointed out by the President during the report’s launch, if a consensus is reached on two critical issues – dealing with unemployment and election winner-takes-all – other issues can be ironed out with time.

Albeit, we must realise that there are certain sections of the report that may prove difficult to modify given the time frame. It will take the wisdom of leaders to be strike a balance as its quite hard to achieve 100 per cent consensus on all the issues raised. As such, we need to adopt an approach of give and take while analyse the contents of the report. We must engender the spirit of compromise so as to reach a national consensus.

Those who are opposed to the changes in the Executive should be ready to provide a very convincing case for their stance. This is in the backdrop of the knowledge that had it not been it not been for the mutilation of the Bomas draft at Naivasha, we would be having these positions in the current constitution. One might argue that the only plausible reason for opposing this proposal is a desire to inherit the presidency with overbearing powers.

It is also worthy to note that President Uhuru Kenyatta set a tone of unity and reconciliation when he acknowledged the contribution of leaders towards the reports despite their differences. It is only fair that those who have been antagonising him and the BBI process should close ranks as a way of reciprocating his gesture.

The President’s warm treatment of his deputy regardless of their differences was the clearest sign that he is ready to go to all lengths to secure the report and its recommendations. He sounded quite candid in his comments to the point of taking personal partial responsibility for the negative politics that has permeated our discourse over the years. This is the spirit that all leaders should adopt.

It is time for all leaders to forget about their personal ambitions and rally behind this effort to reform our Constitution. There are certain leaders who are encouraging a divisive discourse. They seem to relish the constant push and pull of our politics but they need to be reminded that a matter as crucial as this does not give room for unnecessary showdown. Indeed, this moment will be the strongest test of who among our leaders are indeed patriotic.

Equally, the President cautioned leaders to tread carefully on the issue of unemployment among the youth saying that it can turn into a nightmare if not handled with extreme sobriety. We don’t need to incite the youth because of their circumstance for short term political gains. The problems bedevilling the youth will only be ultimately resolved structurally by coming up with policy decisions that will ensure that their welfare is looked into within the proposed reforms.

Kenyans are facing the test of patriotism as we go through the report. We must not let this rare moment escape our grasp by squabbling over issues that we can iron out among ourselves.

-The writer is an author jacoboketch@gmail.com