Kandara MP Alice Wahome has alleged that former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's push to have Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) adopted was aimed at creating a political environment synonymous with Uganda's.
Wahome was addressing the media on Wednesday, March 4, when she accused BBI proponents of the plotting to shrink the democratic space in the country by institutionalising the limitation of freedom of expression.
The lawmaker argued that leaders from her faction had been denied the opportunity to present their ideas to the report.
"The process of the BBI going on now is pure conmanship, it is pure shenanigans. None of what is going on led by Raila Odinga in the name of BBI is good, none of the people allowed to participate is from Jubilee," Wahome alleged.
She further claimed that the section of leaders from the Jubilee Party in support of the report are hoping to have President Uhuru Kenyatta's term extended by changing the constitution.
"It has happened in other countries, not because democracy has been deepened, but because the people of that country have not been given the freedom to say and to choose the right things," Wahome stated.
"You know what has happened in Uganda severally, and that if we are not careful as a country is a route the BBI proponents want to take this country - that you can't have the freedom of speech, opinion, talking what you want to say," she added, referencing President Yoweri Museveni's three-decade rule in Uganda.
Wahome claimed that the BBI report had purposely imposed leaders on the residents of Mt Kenya.
"We have not decided that Governors Kiraitu [Murungi], Kimemia [Francis], Waiguru [Anne] are our leaders. Those are leaders of their counties," Wahome pronounced.
She stated that the report had an agenda to increase buy additional terms for not only President Uhuru Kenyatta but also for sitting governors.
"And if we are changing the constitution so that we can have space for those governors that want a third term of government, I want to tell them that it is a dream that is not likely to be.
"Uhuru has been on record severally saying that he will go home after his rule comes to an end, What is Atwoli [Francis], Murathe [David] telling us?" Wahome ridiculed.
During an interview on JKLive on Wednesday, October 23, Cotu secretary-general Francis Atwoli urged President Uhuru not to retire after the end of his second term in 2022.
According to Atwoli, Kenyatta had every chance to lead the country again and would walk over DP Ruto and opposition leaders Raila Odinga, Musalia Mudavadi, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetangula.
The Cotu leader argued that first, the Building Bridges Initiative would spearhead a constitutional change to aid Kenyatta to be president just like the late former head of state Daniel arap Moi did in 1992.
"In 1992, after we changed the constitution, Moi ruled for 10 more years. After the BBI, Kenyatta can say that he wants to be president as it will be a new outfit and new constitutional terms. The BBI will succeed. It's Kenya's only solution to bloodshed experienced after every election. Creating more positions will enhance a peaceful co-existence," Atwoli argued.
"Kenyans must reject the extension of term limits. Kenyans must reject the attempt to deny them the authority to elect their president," Wahome pronounced.
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