Former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale on Tuesday, November 26, questioned the government's priorities ahead of the release to the pubic of the much-anticipated Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report against a backdrop of devastating landslides in West Pokot County.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Khalwale expressed his displeasurewith the government's disjointed response to the tragic incident that had by Monday, November 26, claimed 52 lives.
"The government has it all wrong, the presentation of the report today and that at the Bomas [of Kenya] tomorrow should have been canceled, and the government should have dedicated its efforts in addressing the tragedy," Khalwale argued.
Khalwale's response mirrored an ensuing debate online over the seriousness with whiich the government was handling the matter with some Kenyans expressing the opinion that the residents appeared to be less valued by the government.
"Food for thought; had the [West] Pokot tragedy, in which 52 Kenyans lost their lives been a terror attack in upmarket Nairobi, would the launch of the BBI have gone ahead as it currently is? Is it the poor nature of the affected? Is it the remoteness of the epic center? Is it the lack of international victims?" posed a user on the Facebook page Kalenjins online.
Khalwale faulted the government for organising a grand event for the announcement of the BBI report which he claimed would cost the taxpayer millions.
"There is no need for the government to spend millions in a presentation ceremony when all that money would have been used to resettle the West Pokot tragedy victims," he added.
Khalwale's remarks coincided with a statement issued by the county government of West Pokot calling for support from Kenyans and well-wishers alike.
On Monday, November 25, West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo issued a plea to well-wishers to share via a Paybill number what they could spare, assuring them that the funds would be directed towards rescue efforts.
"Following the calamity that befell West Pokot County where several lives were lost and many people displaced by landslides, we wish to inform members of the public that the following is the official M-Pesa paybill number for soliciting funds towards helping the victims," the statement by the county read in part.
The former Ikolomani Member of Parliament stated that there was absolutely no need in making a big deal out of the BBI.
"In fact there should not be a ceremony at all. The report should just have been presented to President Uhuru and Raila, and then presented to the people for review," he insisted.
