Update 4.54 p.m: The Eldoret BBI rally has been called off with the leaders agreeing to host the meeting in Nakuru on March 21.
"We had set the Eldoret meeting for March 21 but when we sat down, we decided to hold a single meeting in Nakuru. For now, there will be no major BBI meeting in Eldoret but other people can organise theirs there," Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos was quoted by Nation.
The governor denied reports that the Eldoret rally had been cancelled due to fear of violent conduct.
He warned that Deputy President William Ruto's allies were free to hold their own meetings, and should not bring chaos to the Nakuru rally.
“We have been very clear with the Tanga Tanga group that if they do not want our rallies, they should organise theirs and we will not attend. We also welcome them in our rallies but they have to respect how we have organised it,” Tolgos stated.
He informed that a document would be drafted then presented to Eldoret residents at the municipality's town hall, adding that the two regions had similar problems and there was no need of separate meetings.
Planned Building Bridges Initiatives (BBI) rallies in Rift Valley have stirred a state of confusion after Governors issued similar dates for the two forums.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Nakuru County Director of Communications Beatrice Obwocha informed that Governor Lee Kinyanjui had slotted the county's edition of the BBI rally for March, 21.
However, the set date contradicted a statement by Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos, who had earlier announced that the Eldoret BBI meeting would be held on March 21.
The pronouncements by the two governors are contradictory as the country is yet to be braced by two BBI events on the same day.
Via a Facebook post, Governor Kinyanjui stated that he expected to bring together over 10 counties from Rift Valley and several other national leaders.
Governor Tolgos who was picked by President Uhuru Kenyatta to head BBI meetings in the North Rift stated that due to several considerations during the planning process, he and his team had identified the date as appropriate for the Eldoret meeting.
"The Eldoret BBI meeting will take place on 21st March. Nobody has cancelled it and our plans are almost complete. Kenyans should be ready for it," Tolgos stated.
The BBI rallies are held as a culminating forum of consultative local meetings, in which local agenda is presented before the BBI task force that is lead by Garissa Senator Yusuf Haji.
Therefore, two separate rallies, on a similar date is apparently inconsiderate of the task force.
However, according to Daily Nation, Uasin Gishu County Commissioner Abdirisack Jaldesa told the publication that the BBI team was yet to communicate the date of the rally to them but noted he was willing to provide security if it was made clear.
“For now, they have not informed us about their BBI meeting here but when they do we will put in place all the necessary logistics. We will be ready to provide security when they tell us the date,” Jaldesa stated.
Raila Odinga had earlier on stated that there would be a BBI meeting in Eldoret but with two months gone since the launch of the rallies in Kisii in January, doubts have been cast on the possibility of the event happening.
However, DP Ruto's allies Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi and Soy's Caleb Kositany, declared that they would not allow Raila Odinga preside over a BBI rally in the town.
As it stands, it is yet to be clear as to where the next BBI meetings will be held or rather when the said forums will take place.
