Mudavadi vows to go it alone in campaigns

Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi appending his signature during the launch of the collection of signatures for the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) at KICC in Nairobi on November 25, 2020. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

Amani National Congress (ANC) party has announced plans to run parallel campaigns to popularise the Building Bridges Initiative report. 

Addressing the Press in Nairobi yesterday the ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi said the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2020 has significantly been improved and addresses the contentious issues in the report.

He announced that the party will set up a semi-autonomous secretariat to spearhead the nationwide campaigns.

“The verdict of ANC is that this document has been significantly improved. We want to announce that ANC will form its own platform of popularising the document because we want to have a discussion with the people without unnecessary political noise,” said Mudavadi.

He rallied the public to read the document and support the BBI process with a view of having a non-contested referendum.

The decision is perceived as a tactical move by Mudavadi to prevent being swallowed by the political contest pitting President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga and Deputy President William Ruto on the other side.

Mudavadi cited proposals that have been improved in the final document including deletion of the proposals to have political parties pick commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and establishment of Kenya Police Council.

“IEBC Commissioners were to be seven, four of whom were to be appointed by parliamentary political parties only. This proposal has been shelved altogether, meaning that appointment of IEBC shall remain as currently provided under the Constitution. This enhances IEBC’s independence,” he said.

The ANC leader noted that the Senate has been given powers to vet the Judiciary Ombudsman and Controller of Budget.

He lauded the clarification on how the additional 70 constituencies will be created and amendment on the Judiciary Ombudsman to have the holder be an ex officio member of the Judicial Service Commission.

Mudavadi explained that under proposed Schedule 2, multiple member constituencies have been removed and replaced with the additional 70 constituencies mainstreamed as single-member constituencies.

He said shelving the proposed transfer of functions from the Nairobi County to the National Government was a major boost to devolution.

Other proposals he lauded include a clear formula of achieving affirmative action for people with disabilities, women and youth.