BBI in Kenya Launched

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 26 2020 – The BBI constitution review process is officially launched. The Kenyan President, President Uhuru Kenyatta, his Deputy President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga were among national leaders in attendance at Bomas of Kenya, in a national discourse that is set to make changes in the 2010 Kenya constitution.

The spearheading of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) constitution review report is set to make a number of changes that will see changes in the executive leadership, legislature and a number of other important functions in government. Among the key proposals pushed by the BBI is the calls for an expanded executive which will include a powerful President, Deputy President, Prime Minister and two deputies. A number of key leaders in the government as well as the opposition parties have shown their support to the BBI changes, while the President has been drumming up support for BBI in various parts of the country. The most noticed support was that of Kisumu last week by the President and the former Prime Minister.

Still, there is mixed feelings on the document which has been released to the public for scrutiny. Among the key issues is the rise in poverty, the rising gap between the rich and poor in the country and the increased corruption in the country as reported by a number of sources. The launch got the support of Odinga who is jointly spearheading the BBI process with President Kenyatta.

The Deputy President who has previously expressed reservations on the handling of the constitutional review process under BBI missed the presentation of the report to Kenyatta and Odinga at the Kisii State Lodge on Wednesday, October 21. The previously warm relationship of the President and his Deputy has gradually and openly deteriorated setting the country in a wait and see mood regarding the process since the handshake between the President and the former Prime Minister in March 2018.

President Uhuru Kenyatta arrives at the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi County for the official launch of the Building Bridges to a United Kenya Taskforce Report | PSCU

The document can be accessed from the official BBI website and the detailed document available here.

Inset: President Uhuru Kenyatta give a speech at the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi County for the official launch of the Building Bridges to a United Kenya Taskforce Report | PSCU