Raila, Ruto allies trade barbs over ‘handshake’ team

Nyanza MPs accuse Ruto of campaigning against BBI.

A section of MPs from Nyanza region have demanded the resignation of Deputy President William Ruto for allegedly bankrolling the opposition to the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) through MPs from Mt Kenya region.

Senate Minority Leader James Orengo, Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang’ and Kabondo Kasipul MP Eve Obara  yesterday said Mt Kenya MPs who oppose the BBI are working at the behest of Ruto.

But speaking in Lubinu in Mumias East at a function attended by the DP, MPs allied to him dug in insisting that BBI will suffer the same fate as the Punguza Mizigo initiative. 

On Thursday, more than 20 MPs from Mt Kenya opposed the BBI on grounds that a Parliamentary system said to be recommended by the team will disadvantage their region.

“I want to say without fear of contradiction that the press conference held by MPs from Mt Kenya in Nairobi was not a coincidence. That was a plot of the Deputy President to campaign against constitutional reforms,” Orengo said at a fundraiser in aid of Wang’apala Secondary School in Kabondo Kasipul Constituency.

They challenged the DP to come out clearly instead of purporting to support BBI while at the same time inciting supporters to attack it. They said the DP had opposed the current constitution, which gave him his current position.

“It is wrong to become a rebel in government without a cause. We are requesting him to resign and rock the government agenda from outside. Kenya is bigger than Mt Kenya,” Kajwang’ said.

At the Mumias East event held at Lubinu to launch Wanga Technical and Vocational Institute he characteristically kept off the BBI as his legion of MPs tore it down. Instead he concentrated on policy issues announcing that the State would relinguish the shares it holds in Mumias Sugar Company.

Shoot down

The leaders accompanying him however made it clear that they will shoot down the report if it focused at creation of additional political positions. Inclusion is one of the points the BBI must address.

Former Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale said BBI must fall if it focused on creation of political seats to reward certain leaders.

Another leader Enock Kibunguchi warned the report would face the same fate Thirdway Alliance leader Ekuru Aukot’s Punguza Mizigo Bill faced if it proposed reduction of constituencies in the country.

“I will only support the report if it focuses on devolving more funds to the ward level,” said Kibunguchi.

Sirisia MP John Waluke claimed BBI was a one-man show seeking political relevance for 2022.

“There was no public participation on BBI, which has no interest of the common mwananchi at the grassroots level,” said Waluke.