President Uhuru Kenyatta received the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report at the newly built State Lodge in Kisii County on Wednesday, October 21, 2020.
The event was attended by ODM leader Raila Odinga while Deputy President William Ruto gave the event a wide berth.
This is despite DP Ruto being in Kisii the previous day to join the Head of State in celebrating Mashujaa Day.
{"preview_thumbnail":"/files/styles/video_embed_wysiwyg_preview/public/video_thumbnails/NhZOJSWjE-o.jpg?itok=80ET1sr2","video_url":"
As the BBI report was being handed over to the handshake partners, Ruto attended the funeral service of the late Peter Kiiru Chomba (MCA Huruma Ward) at Huruma Grounds, Turbo Constituency in Uasin Gishu County.
Kenyatta added that on Monday, October 26, there will be an event at the Bomas of Kenya where the report will be launched and a breakdown of the proposal will be conducted.
President Kenyatta urged Kenyans to read the proposals which will be made public and appealed to leaders not to use the document to divide Kenyans.
He urged politicians to tame their ambition so that as they seek leadership, they will have an opportunity to rule a stable country.
"This is not a time to create division, this is a time for every one of us to show leadership and bring our country together," he stated.
On his part, Odinga stated that he and the president had chosen to receive the report in Kisii since the county hosted the first consultative meeting in January 2020.
The recommendations proposed in the document touch on the structure of the Executive and Parliament, devolution, representation, health as well as the economy.
Odinga hinted that the next step would be the collection of signatures from voters to present to the IEBC.
The document will be drafted into a bill to be presented to county assemblies for approval.
The ODM leaders expressed hope that MCAs from the requisite number of counties would pass it within a week.
If successful at the county assembly stage, the document will then be taken to Parliament before being subjected to a referendum.
Below are some of the highlights contained in the report.
1. 35% of the national revenue to be allocated to counties up from 15%.
2. Development of Ward Fund kitty.
3. Embracing utu/ubuntu (humanity).
4. 7 year tax holiday for youth and startups (SMEs).
5. Helb loan to be paid after a grace period of four years and after getting a job.
6. Every ward to have a business incubation centre for youth.
7. Full gender parity in the Senate.
8. Youth Commission to be established.
9. Political parties to access cash on basis of how inclusive they are especially on women and youth.
10. Court cases involving corruption to end at most in 2 years.
11. Office of an independent Judiciary ombudsman to be established.
12. Governor and deputies to be of opposite genders.
