Deputy President William Ruto's close ally, Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen (pictured), will this morning present his views before the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) task force.
The submissions by Murkomen will be followed keenly because Dr Ruto's allies have continuously claimed the process has been hijacked by 2022 succession politics.
The camp has also protested against the ongoing BBI rallies, which they claim are being used by Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga as a platform to popularise himself ahead of the next poll.
Murkomen, Senate Minority Leader James Orengo and Kajiado Senator Victor Prengei will appear before the 14-member steering committee that is set to conclude its public hearings today.
The 47 Woman Reps Caucus led by chairperson Fatuma Gedi (Wajir), Young Parliamentarians Association, Media Council of Kenya, Peace Building and Disaster Response Directorate and the Mental Healthcare Task force will also make their submissions.
The Yusuf Haji-led team is set to conclude the hearings today, but will continue receiving written submissions. The task force is also set to attend Nakuru BBI rally on March 21 before attending another rally in Nairobi to receive the regions’ memorandum.
The conclusion of the public engagements is set to give way for the next phase of the process that is likely to culminate into a referendum before end of this year.
Raila and Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka have called for a referendum by June. Raila previously said the ongoing BBI meetings should close by March.
The task force received submissions from the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut), National Council for Persons with Disabilities, Association of Retired Police Officers, Kenya Young Members of County Assemblies, Kenya Association of Retired Officers and the Sabaot Community.
During its presentation, Knut pushed for the disbandment of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) as an independent commission and have it domiciled in the Education ministry.
Deputy Secretary-General Hesbon Otieno said TSC has to be brought under the control of the State Department of Basic Education ‘to be in line with the Constitution and Unesco dictates.’
He told the task force that “accountability and democratic decision-making” can only be achieved if tutors are under direct supervision of the Education ministry.
He said putting the teachers under the ministry would promote quality and relevant education for learners.
Kenya Association of Retired Officers proposed that the government puts in place a medical cover for public sector retirees.
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The association's organising secretary, Grace Otieno, explained that during their working life, public officers contribute to medical cover but they lose this when they leave employment
“As public retirees age, they suffer from many chronic illnesses such as diabetes, cancer, arthritis and blood pressure. These conditions are generally not covered by private insurers,” she told the committee.
Association of Retired Police Officers proposed the formation of Kenya Bureau of Investigations, which they said should have constitutional anchorage and independence.
The association’s spokesperson Francis Sang proposed to have KBI under the supervision of the National Security Council, which will in turn be answerable to Parliament.
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