Deputy President Dr. William Ruto has told off his
opposition that the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report released on
Wednesday is for every Kenyan and that threatening one another is not necessary.
Ruto, in a tweet seen by News 9 Kenya, said both parties and
stakeholders involved in the implementation of the report should agree in conducive
manner.
“FRIENDS, bravado, hubris and threats not necessary, BBI is
ours ALL. Let’s agree on implementation matrix…” read part of the DP’s tweet.
He added that those calling for a referendum it will be
taken to the public for Kenyans to decide, adding that each institution will handle
relevant section of the report.
“INSTITUTIONS; departments, ministries, Commissions, parliament
and Judiciary will handle relevant sections. Those requiring referenda if any
be taken to people. No need for us vs them.”
The Deputy President Remarks comes after the opposition
leader Raila Odinga claimed that Members of Parliament can be manipulated to sabotage
the implementation of the BBI report, should it be taken to parliament.
The ODM leader want MPs to be locked out of the whole process
of implementation, a move that is likely to open a new battle front with Deputy
President allies pushing for Parliamentary approval of the report.
The main issue sparking the battle over BBI recommendations is
the creation of a Prime Minister’s post.
On Thursday, Raila said recommendations in the report should
be subjected to a referendum, keeping MPs away from the implementation process.
“The process must be people owned, it must not be taken to
Parliament. It is the people to own the document,” said Raila.
However, DP Ruto allies are pushing the agenda of having the
BBI report subject to MPs approval in parliament.
Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, who is also the
Senate Majority leader, said holding a referendum will economically harm ‘common
mwananchi’ and that the state should focus on other pressing issues.
“We do not need a referendum, however, there are those
hell-bent on the same. They want the referendum for the sake of having it. They
want to take Kenyan to early elections. Why should we spend Sh30 billion on
referendum when we have other pressing issues to be discussed?” Murkomen said.
