Economic Freedom Party (EFP) has hit out at North Eastern politicians allied to Deputy President William Ruto for opposing the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).
Party chairman Issack Abbey (pictured) yesterday said the region will not allow ‘selfish politicians’ to lock out the region from the push to have a more inclusive government.
Mr Abbey singled out Mandera Governor Ali Roba and Senator Mohamud Maalim for their non-committal to the initiative. He claimed Roba is a Deputy President William Ruto's ally and was out to alienate the area from backing the proposed amendments to the law.
“We are concerned by the lackluster manner our governor and other senior leaders from the region have adopted on the important national matter of BBI. It is no time for fence-sitters or watermelons, we either support BBI or we are against it and face the consequences,” said Abbey in a statement.
The party which backed Uhuru’s re-election is pushing to have the next BBI consultative meeting held in the region after the first two in Kisii and Kakamega.
“It will be unfortunate for us not to take this golden opportunity presented by BBI to address those issues given that we come from a region which has seen years of neglect and marginalisation, inter-clan fighting and insecurity to drag us to the painful past. We must move on along with other Kenyans,” he added.
In a direct attack targeted at Roba, Abbey said: “We call upon Mandera Governor to stop misleading his political sponsors that he will be able to scuttle BBI process in Mandera County.”
The party reiterated its commitment in backing the BBI and assured President Uhuru Kenyatta and Opposition leader Raila Odinga of their unwavering support.
“Our people are united behind the truce between Uhuru and Raila which has given birth to the BBI and we want to commit our support for the Building Bridges Initiative that will not only unite the country but also give equal chance to all Kenyans to participate in the decision-making of our country,” he added.
Abbey said that the decision by Roba to align himself with Ruto is likely to hurt the region in terms of development, citing the recent meeting the President had with governors in Mombasa but was skipped by Roba.
“It is a pity our county was not involved in such an important meeting with the Head of State. Our people will not be sold to the highest bidder. We will not allow that,” he charged.
The party also lauded the president’s resolve last Friday to flush out terror elements, particularly Al-Shabaab militants in the North Eastern and Coastal part of the country.
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