Baringo Senator Gideon Moi has on Thursday 11 February reprimanded MCAs in his home county for turning down the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) Referendum Bill.
During a tour to Njoro, Nakuru County, Gideon drummed up support for the BBI proposals merely days after the MCAs rejected the bill.
He was accompanied by his elder brother Raymond, who is also the Rongai MP.
Raymond urged Baringo residents not to re-elect the current lot of MCAs in the coming 2022 elections as a form of punishment for rejecting the Bill.
Kanu Secretary general Nick Salat, who was also part of Gideon's tour, claimed that the vow on the BBI bill was carried out without public participation among residents of Baringo County.
"Baringo people, I am sorry. I cry for you. When other county assemblies have allocated time for public participation. Baringo MCAs decided to shoot down the Bill without allowing residents to have a say. This is very unfortunate. We are confident Baringo people will endorse the consitutional amendments during the referendum," Salat stated.
Baringo County was the first county to reject the proposal despite their governor's support for the bill. At least 30 MCAs voted no, saying it did not accommodate the interests of Kenyan citizens.
Moi placed major emphasis on how the proposal would benefit residents.
"BBI will allow devolution of at least 35 percent of national revenue to the counties, which will spur economic growth in the grassroots," said Moi.
He also advised Kenyans that politicians who rejected the Bill were not being completely honest, therefore urging them to be skeptical.
"The BBI report has proposed a seven year tax holiday for youth-owned business among other good proposals. Tax holidays for investments by youth and a break from repaying education loans will enable then focus on establishing themselves and businesses after school," added the senator.
Only five ward representatives voted in support of the Bill. In the closed meeting with Speaker Samwel Tonui and minority leader Peter Parang'a, the leaders addressed different issues affecting the county and it’s residents.
The Jubilee Party has threatened to punish MCAs who voted against the BBI in an effort to ensure it sails through in at least 24 county assemblies.
Keiyo South MP Daniel Rono urged the MCAs to be cautious against being used by the state maintaining that they would have themselves to blame if not re-elected come 2022.
MCAs should know that in case they go against the will of those who elected them, their time is coming," said Rono.
