Kalonzo says nobody will force BBI on Kenyans, calls for sober conversation

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has called on all Kenyans including the church to engage soberly on the Building Bridges Initiative discussion stating that nobody will be forced on the document.

Kalonzo said BBI was meant for Kenyans to come together and not to divide them, hence the need for all to be engaged in a national conversation on the document.

“BBI or no BBI, referendum or no referendum, can the country do anything on the 2010 Constitution. The Constitution is one of the best documents in the world,” Kalonzo said.

He addressed a congregation during a funds drive at Kisooni Catholic church in Mumbuni North, Machakos County on Sunday.

Kalonzo said the current Constitution states that thieves should not assume leadership, hence the need for corrupt individuals to disqualify themselves from contesting for various political positions in 2022.

 “The Bible says let’s come together. The whole idea of BBI is for Kenyans to come together and reason together.  There is nobody who will come carrying a machete or whip to force Kenyans with BBI by crook or hook," Kalonzo said.

“It’s a matter of conversations and reasoning together, let’s have a competition of ideas because this document is a reform document. Let’s us not be the only country in the world which is anti-reformed,”

Kalonzo said a good idea always gives room for a better idea, but there are people who oppose things for the sake of it.

“I have no doubt myself that should the court of appeal give us the opportunity to go back to explain to the country the whole meaning and effect of the BBI, the Constitutional Amendment Bill, we will convince them."

The former vice president said BBI was beyond President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga.

He said the document was for Kenyans themselves.

“So, we now must up our thinking. The church was opposed to the 2010 constitution due to the establishment of the Kadhi court, I remember saying before the ordination of a church that there wasn’t anything wrong with Kadhi courts and the church listened, the court was introduced and the church no longer has problems with it,” Kalonzo said.

Kalonzo said there was a lot of concern by the church on Kadhi Court, “And we gave assurance that it was going to be well, nobody now is opposed to the Kadhi Court.”

“I also know that time changes, perceptions change, and people believe that BBI is about an individual and they don’t want that individual. So, they take positions. I call this a reform document,” Kalonzo said.

He added, “I don’t think my country will be the only country to be anti-reform. Bottom-up economic and the BBI allows counties to achieve development from the grassroots.”

Kalonzo urged residents to warmly welcome the president during his planned tour of the Ukambani region scheduled for Tuesday, June 6.

He said the region had adversely benefited from developmental projects courtesy of the Jubilee administration under Uhuru.