Tangatanga MPs denounce BBI

MPs Rigathi Gachagua (Mathira), Aisha Jumwa (Malindi), Glady Shollei (Uasin Gishu), Cecily Mbarire (Special MP) among others said, parliament had to discuss challenges facing Kenyans such as the Covid-19 crisis, famine and rising at the cost of living.

The MPs, who are part of Deputy President William Ruto, also claimed the bill would increase Kenyans’ costs through the creation of more leadership positions and the number of parliamentary seats from 290 to 360.

“This bill is meaningless to Kenyans at this time. It would be prudent for a meeting like this to be convened to discuss how Kenyans will receive immunizations, food and other basic necessities. He who is hungry is angry, ”said Mr Gachagua.

The MP also warned that Nyeri residents would oppose the BBI bill because the county was left out in the supply of 70 new parliamentary constituencies.

Mr Gachagua described the move as discriminatory and aimed at impoverishing the people of Nyeri.

“Those I represent have no reason to support this bill because it has discriminated against them and has pushed them further into poverty. National resources are allocated on the basis of constituencies but we have not been added to any parliamentary constituency, ”said Mr Gachagua.

For her part, Ms Mbarire said the bill was dangerous because it undermined the independence of the Judiciary through the appointment of an office to receive complaints about judges, popularly known as the “ombudsman”.

“If the bill is passed, the judges will be the slaves of the president’s office which will appoint the officer to receive the complaint against them. This will affect the administration of justice in the courts, ”he explained.

Earlier, JLAC chairman Muturi Kigano dismissed lawmakers who called for the bill to be amended, saying their claims were unconstitutional.

Other supporters of the bill are MPs Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja), Jeremiah Kioni (Ndaragua), Chris Wamalwa (Kimimini), Zulekha Hassan (Kwale MP), among others.

In the Senate, members were divided over the bill, with those in the Tangatanga faction pushing for a change while their elite counterparts pushed for it to be passed.

Like their colleagues in the national assembly, senators Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet), Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho), and Mithika Linturi (Meru) said there were dangerous elements in the bill that needed to be amended.

Until we went to the polls, lawmakers and senators had not voted on the bill. However, Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi hinted that the debate could continue on Tuesday next week.

But lawmakers leaning towards President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga supported the passage of the bill, as it stands, saying the proposals address a number of challenges facing the country.