Boniface Mwangi: BBI will not solve our problems

Activist and politician Boniface Mwangi. [Courtesy]

Activist and politician Boniface Mwangi has called on Kenyans to protect their sovereignty by opposing the BBI. 

Mwangi, in the company of Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua, activist Jerotich Seii, economist David Ndii, and Community Advocacy and Awareness Trust Executive Director Daisy Amdany have been at the forefront in opposing the BBI.  They say it will solve none of Kenya’s problems. 

“Will BBI fight corruption? Will BBI swear in the new judges? Will BBI make sure the people who are sleeping hungry get food? Will BBI help this country? Not at all,” said Mr Mwangi.

The activist accused President Uhuru Kenyatta of failing to fight corruption and disobeying court orders.

Among the court orders referred by Mr Mwangi include two that directed President Uhuru to swear in 41 judges who were recommended by the Judicial Service Commission in July 2019.

“What makes you think new laws will make him govern well? It’s a lie. The president of the Republic of Kenya doesn’t want to go home. He is trying to find a way with his handshake brother Raila Odinga to come back into power,” said Mr Mwangi.

Even though the activist provided no evidence for some of his claims, he asked Kenyans and the media to stop focusing on ODM leader Raila Odinga and Deputy President William Ruto but on the bigger picture which is the “future of our country”.

Mr Mwangi also poked holes in the move to increase the people’s representatives in parliament saying that the country is sinking in debt and that will be equal to shooting oneself in the foot.

“Our country is in debt. We can afford to create new positions for people who have lost their jobs. The governors who are going to lose in 2022 and the rest.”

Linda Katiba Movement- the outfit championing for the non-tinkering with the 2010 constitution and opposing the BBI, argued that the handshake memorandum had the objective of healing the country and at no point did they tell or consult Kenyans that were planning to review the constitution.

The movement has asked the government to implement the Waki report, Kriegler Report, Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission Report and Ndung’u Report.

“We have enough reports that if implemented, this country will go forward. The president has time to launch BBI signature ... but doesn’t have the time to swear in the judges that were appointed,” said Mr Mwangi.

Karua citisiced the BBI as a partisan campaign that was not initiated by the people but organised and steered by the state using taxpayers’ money.

“We want those opposed to the BBI to know that they are not alone; it is time to speak out, organise so that we may together amplify our voices and resist the illegalities that have come along with this attempt to overthrow the Constitution of Kenya,” said Karua.

Speaking to Spice FM on Monday, Uasin Gishu woman representative Gladys Boss Shollei has also reaffirmed that she does not support the proposed constitutional amendments.

“I have not endorsed the BBI process and or its constitutional amendments at all. It can’t be forced down our throats by a small section of Kenyans. It has to be something that Kenyans buy into,” said the legislator. 

The opposition to the document comes at a time when the signature collection required for a constitutional amendment was launched on Wednesday, November 25.