Murkomen Reveals BBI Flaw That Spells Doom for Raila

President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga display copies of the report after its presentation by the Building Bridges Initiative at Kisii State Lodge. October 21, 2020.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga display copies of the report after its presentation by the Building Bridges Initiative at Kisii State Lodge. October 21, 2020.
PSCU

Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen has revealed a tenet of the BBI proposal he believes could potentially end Raila Odinga's political career.

Speaking in the build up to the colourful launch of the BBI report at the Bomas of Kenya, the former Senate Majority Leader explained that the creation of an imperial president would be the end of the ODM Party leader.

"When you are making law, imagine your worst enemy as the person who will be implementing that it," he warned.

"I want to tell those who are pushing for an imperial presidency, please, just imagine your worst competitor as the next president. Will you be comfortable if he gets all those powers? If you are comfortable, then bring it (BBI report) tomorrow and we will pass it," he added.

Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen at Athi Catholic Church in Igembe South, Meru County, on October 25, 2020.
Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen at Athi Catholic Church in Igembe South, Meru County, on October 25, 2020.
Twitter

The vocal leader warned Deputy President Willliam Ruto's political rivals against pushing for a revision of a section of the law that would eventually end up as his biggest asset.

Murkomen claimed that President Uhuru Kenyatta and Ruto had a plan up their sleeves regarding the 2022 general elections, which would be revealed in due time.

"Sisi si wapumbavu, tunakuangalia tunapanga tunasema iko nini hapo ndani. Ok hii si mzuri hii si mzuri lakini ata ikipita tutanyorosha hii na hii. (We are not fools. We have sifted through the document and highlighted what works and what does not, and if it sails through, then we have a contingency plan).

"Mtashangaa nini itafanyika kutoka kesho na siku zitakazo fuata. Acha nisiseme zaidi lakini jueni ya kwamba our captain President Uhuru Kenyatta hawezi kuhepa (You will be surprised by what will happen after the report is launched, but let me not say more. Just know that our captain President Uhuru is with us) if he turns left or right, we are right there behind him." 

He went on to warn Raila's supporters to tread carefully, "Let them not come after 2022 protesting against the very laws they are trying to implement forcefully," he asserted.

President Uhuru Kenyatta addressing the delegates at Building Bridges Initiative report launch on October 26, 2020.
President Uhuru Kenyatta addressing the delegates at Building Bridges Initiative report launch on October 26, 2020.
PSCU

If the BBI report is passed as is, President Uhuru will be the first and last occupier of the country’s top job under the pure presidential system of governance adopted 10 years ago.

Under the proposed BBI system, the presidential model of governance involves empowering the President to appoint a Prime Minister, which Murkomen highlighted as some of the privileges, that if bestowed upon his preferred presidential winner in 2022, could mark the beginning of the end of his political rivals.

The BBI is proposing expanded executive which includes the president, deputy president, prime minister and two Deputy Prime ,Ministers. The proposed premier shall be appointed by the President from the party or coalition of parties registering a majority in the National Assembly.

The Prime Minister will also be a Member of Parliament, and leader of the party or coalition with a majority in the national assembly.

Under the proposal, premier and both deputies will be appointed by the president, subject to confirmation by the National Assembly and can be sacked by the Head of State, or ejected through a successful motion of impeachment.

Also included in the proposed changes is the model of Cabinet appointments and composition. This includes a change of name from cabinet secretaries to cabinet ministers.

The president will also be able to appoint members of the National Assembly to be ministers, and technocrats handed ministerial flags will also become ex-officio members of the National Assembly.

Following the launch of the report on October 26, many politicians allied to DP Ruto claimed that a Uhuru-Ruto reunion was in the pipeline, despite the country's second in commander being heckled during his address.

"In the end , I can confidently say  I was fully represented in Bomas of Kenya by both the President and his Deputy," reads mystic tweet shared by Murkomen following the event.

Watch Murkomen's warning message below:

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