Roba in Mombasa for BBI, vows to popularise report in North Eastern region

ODM leader Raila Odinga with Mandera Governor at a Mombasa hotel minutes before attending BBI rally at Mma Ngina Waterfront, Mombasa. [Courtesy]

Mandera Governor Ali Roba has said he will popularise the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report in North Eastern region, adding that the report will bring more money to the people.

Speaking at a Mombasa hotel where he met ODM leader Raila Odinga after arriving for today's BBI rally at Mama Ngina Waterfront, Roba said contrary to reports that he was against the document, the entire North Eastern region was behind the report.

He said some of the proposed changes reflected views that had been presented to the Yusuf Haji-led team during their tour of the county.

"I fully support any attempts to increase allocations to counties from the current 15 to 45 per cent. This will revolutionise service delivery and improve the economies of counties,” the governor said.

A section of political leaders from the region have accused Roba and his associates of being anti-BBI due their close working relation with Deputy President William Ruto.

Economic Freedom Party has been accusing Roba and his team of rallying against the BBI report, which has blessings of Raila Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Party chairman Issak Abbey claimed Governor Roba and Senator Maalim were campaigning against BBI in the Northern Kenya region and asked them to declare their stand.

Roba, however, dismissed Abbey as a busybody seeking political relevance adding that he was behind the report.

“Kenya is a highly political country with everyone trying desperately to outdo each other in an effort to catch the eyes of the masters in any setting," said Roba

He said no leader in the county was against the proposed constitutional reforms.