Overwhelming BBI support differentiates noise from reality - PS Kibicho

Interior PS Karanja Kibicho has lauded counties for their overwhelming support for the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

This is after the Bill surpassed the threshold of at least 24 County Assemblies needed for it to move on to the next stage.

In an interview with the Radio Jambo on Wednesday morning, the PS said that through the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), Kenyans have made it clear that they do not want a country held hostage by cyclical elections.

“The overwhelming positive response by over 90 per cent of the counties differentiates noise from reality. It demonstrates Kenyans have understood and chosen the path of reconciliation based on the pillars of fair representation and resource allocation,” Kibicho said.

The PS added that the results of 'Super Tuesday' express that Kenyans trust BBI to promote nationhood and patriotism.

Kibicho further said that BBI aims to arrest the deterioration of the relationship between tribes and political formations.

This, he said, would end aggressive antagonism and competition between tribes and political groups.

On Tuesday, 23 county assemblies unanimously approved the Bill increasing the number of counties that have supported it to 35.

The unanimous support appeared as a Big win to President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga who has been at the forefront drumming up support for BBI.

As of Tuesday, Baringo County Assembly was the only one opposing the Bill as other counties from the Deputy President's backyard supported it.

Raila lauded MCAs on the day more than 2o assemblies voted to approve the Bill.

The ODM boss said the action of the assemblies pushes the country closer to the referendum, which according to BBI Secretariat should be held in June this year.

In a statement to newsrooms on Tuesday, the AU special envoy on Infrastructure said despite the propaganda and misinformation that had been peddled around the law change process, the Assemblies stood firm.