Siaya becomes first county to approve BBI bill

The Siaya county assembly unanimously passed the Building Bridges Initiative (Constitutional Amendment) Bill 2020 on Wednesday.

During a sitting that had been organised by Speaker George Okode, the MCAs present approved the bill.

Okode is now expected to sign a certificate and forward it to the National Assembly and the Senate.

“What we have done as a house is to make sure that the public has been involved substantially…we went to radio stations, websites…and conducted public participation in all the six sub-counties within Siaya County,” he said.

Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga, who attended the sitting, stated that due process was followed during the proceedings and the outcome captured the spirit of the area’s residents.

Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga [Collins Oduor, Standard]

Rasanga urged other counties to follow in their footsteps saying the BBI promises a better future, peace and tranquility.

The BBI Bill was submitted to 47 county assemblies by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

The counties have 90 days to debate and approve the Bill. The County Assembly had put up adverts in local dailies last week inviting residents who were not able to attend the public participation forums.

The Bill will require two thirds or 24 counties to approve it before Kenyans can vote to approve or reject it in a referendum.

Elsewhere, the Homa Bay County Assembly has subjected the BBI Referendum Bill for public participation as the process of approving or rejecting it starts.

County Assembly Deputy Speaker Elias Orondo said they held a special sitting on Friday last week in which they handed over the bill to the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee.

The committee is expected to table a report on the bill to enable MCAs discuss it for approval or rejection.