Raila Locked in Meeting with Matiang'i, Western Governors Over BBI

An image of Raila Odinga
Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Interior CS Fred Matiang'i and Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa at a meeting in Kisumu on Sunday, November 15.
Twitter

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga convened a meeting on Sunday, November 15, to drum up support for the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), with Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i in attendance.

Raila also met with Governors from Nyanza and Western region, with Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa part of the meeting hosted at a hotel in Kisumu.

The ODM Party Leader clarified a number of contentious issues in the BBI report including the bloated government positions, the introduction of an imperial president and the role of the ombudsman.

Interior CS Fred Matiang'i speaks during National Safety Roads Programme on Wednesday, October 28, 2020.
Interior CS Fred Matiang'i speaks during National Safety Roads Programme on Wednesday, October 28, 2020.
Twitter

"There is this propaganda that the report is introducing an imperial presidency. I have been part of reforms and change and will never be party to any amendment that will create an imperial presidency.

"We explained clearly that the introduction of the ombudsman is basically for the benefit of wananchi and those who want to complain against the Judiciary," said Raila.

Raila also noted that the inclusion of the Prime Minister and two Deputies will not burden the taxpayers, and added that the BBI signature collection is set to be launched in the coming week.

"No one is bloating the government by introducing the Prime Minister and the two deputies; some of you were around when we had the Grand Coalition government. Both the Prime Minister and his Deputies were MPs; I was the Lang'ata MP and my salary was that of a legislator.

"We are going to launch the signature collection sometimes next week and once that is done, it is going to be taken to all corners of the country and people will have an opportunity to voluntarily sign the document," stated Raila.

With the suspension of political gathering, President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila opted for targeted meetings to enlist the support for the BBI.

Governors present in the meeting included Wycliffe Wangamati (Bungoma), Patrick Khaemba (Trans Nzoia), Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega), Dr Wilberforce Ottichilo (Vihiga), Sospeter Ojaamong (Busia), James Ongwae (Kisii), Prof Anyang' Nyong'o (Kisumu), Cyprian Awiti (Homa Bay) and Cornel Rasanga (Siaya).

President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga with MPs at a BBI retreat in Naivasha on November 2, 2020
President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga with MPs at a BBI retreat in Naivasha on November 2, 2020