Governors plan to roll out BBI meetings

Nyanza governors led by Kisii Governor James Ongwae (in white coat) address the press in Kisumu on January 02,2020 over the planned discussion on BBI planned to take place in Kisii on January 10th. He was flanked by Homabay's Cyprian Awiti, Anyang' Nyong'o from Kisumu, John Nyagarama from Nyamira and Siaya Deputy Governor James Okumbe. (Denish Ochieng/ Standard)

Nyanza leaders have lined up a series of countrywide rallies in the New Year to popularise the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report and push for an expanded executive.

The leaders are against the winner-takes-all mentality, saying it is not good for Kenya and are pushing for creation of a powerful Prime Minister position in BBI’s second wave.

Already, six governors from the Great Lakes Region led by Kisii Governor James Ongwae have resolved to convene rallies in their electoral turfs to educate the people on BBI.

"Our primary interest is to know what the people want and how they ought to be governed by capturing new emerging issues from the BBI report,’’ Mr Ongwae said.

Thereafter the team expects the first leaders’ forum and BBI rally slated for next Friday in Kisii town, to come up with a joint memorandum to be broadcast in public.

They will then make their stand public, including new or emerging proposals from BBI report to create more government posts to unite Kenyans.

The governors declared support for President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga led reforms drive, saying nothing will deter their resolve to back it.

They said parties provide means by which supporters of various interests and issues unite and thus gain greater political power, hence their resolve to push for the changes.

The Nyanza leaders are planning to engage with multi-sectoral leaders to pick emerging issues from Kisii, Nyamira, Migori, Homa Bay, Kisumu and Siaya counties. Pro-BBI rallies will be spearheaded by the governors who shall be host or key conveners of the rallies.

Those championing BBI are Ongwae (Kisii), Anyang' Nyong’o, (Kisumu), Cyprian Awiti, (Homa Bay), John Nyangarama (Nyamira) and Okoth Obado (Migori).

Kisumu governor, who even published a book on presidential versus parliamentary democracy, made it resoundingly clear where the governors stand.

"I published a book to elicit the question on what systems Kenyans want. What I am not okay with is the winner-takes-all system that most states use,’’ said Prof Nyong’o.