BBI good for central Kenya, says Gideon

Kanu National Chairman Senator Gideon Moi distributes copies of Constitutional Amendment Bill to Nyeri County Kanu delegates after a BBI meeting on December 15, 2020. [Mose Sammy, Standard]

Baringo Senator Gideon Moi has called for massive support of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) in central Kenya, noting its proposed constitutional amendments will benefit the nation.

Speaking during a Kanu BBI sensitisation forum at a hotel in Kieni constituency, Nyeri, Gideon said the region would benefit massively from the BBI proposals.

“If you read the BBI document, central Kenya is the biggest beneficiary of the amendments with the increased number of constituencies,” he said.

The senator, who distributed copies of the BBI document to the residents who attended the meeting, said Kenyans should read the report carefully to confirm its gains and support the initiative massively.

“Read the BBI report and identify the positive gains for the people in Nyeri and adopt them,” Gideon said.

He said increased resources for devolution would benefit the counties and improve development.

“BBI will support the youth because once Nyeri County gets Sh13 billion in allocation, 30 per cent will be for youth to deliver goods and services,” he said.

Kanu National Chairman Senator Gideon Moi distributes copies of Constitutional Amendment Bill to Nyeri County Kanu delegates. [Mose Sammy, Standard]

Legacy projects

The senator said further civic education forums would be held once the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) completed verification of signatures.

“We are expecting that come April or May, next year we will have the BBI referendum and God willing we expect it will sail through,” said the senator.

He said central Kenya should also support President Uhuru Kenyatta to deliver on his legacy projects.

“Let the president do his work. There are still two years to the next elections and he can accomplish a lot of development in that time,” he said.

Gideon said once the BBI process was completed, the country would then have discourse on the 2022 General Election.

“For now we all should have one focus which is the success of the BBI process. After that, we can take up other challenges facing the country,” added the senator.

He was accompanied by Nyeri Senator Ephraim Maina, MPs Gichuki Mugambi (Othaya), Kanini Kega (Kieni), Charles Njagua (Starehe) and Baringo Woman Rep Gladwell Tungo, and Maina Njenga.

Enhance equality

Tungo said women should support BBI because it is progressive and will enhance equality.

Kega said the country has enough resources to carry out the BBI process.

He said as the chairperson of the National Assembly Budget and Appropriation Committee, he is certain the funds necessary to carry out the BBI signature verification exercise are sufficient.

“The IEBC has enough money to employ people to carry out the verification of signatures,” Kega said.