Game of wits as BBI rally heads to Mombasa

ODM leader Raila Odinga and Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho at Wildwaters in Mombasa. [Omondi Onyango/Standard]

Following yesterday's incident where lawmakers Aisha Jumwa and Mohammed Ali's press conference was disrupted, it is unclear whether today's BBI rally at Mama Ngina will be smooth.

According to the met department, the rains are supposed to fall, perhaps a precursor to what is expected at the podium.

The Building Bridges Initiative has been a thorn in the flesh for some Jubilee politicians who either feel the move is meant to elbow them out of their positions or frustrate Deputy President William Ruto.

The BBI conversation is also surrounded by talk of a referendum, which Siaya Senator James Orengo has in the past said may need to take place in or before June.

As is, the Constitution only allows the President to stay in office for two terms.

President Uhuru Kenyatta cannot stay in office after the 2022 General Election.

Seeing as there is no age cap, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who turned 75 this year, may still entertain hopes of leading the country.

Uhuru and Raila, formerly bitter rivals, have formed a new unity deal which in turn left Ruto out in the cold.

The BBI rallies have been held across the country in events that will run until the next month.

Mombasa's meeting will be the third after Kakamega and Kisii.

For many, the BBI rallies have been seen as a waste of public resources, money which should have been set aside for development projects.

While it is not clear how much went into preparing the report, taskforce Joint Secretary Martin Kimani says the amount did not cross the Sh100 million mark.

Speaking in an interview with Citizen TV in November last year, he denied claims the cost was Sh10 billion.

Chuka MP Patrick Munene also said it cost Sh10 billion.

What can you do with Sh10 billion?
One of the most celebrated leaders who improved the lives of their constituents includes the late Kibra MP Ken Okoth.

He worked to ensure his constituents had better schools. The lawmaker unveiled Mbagathi High School which was built at a cost of Sh48.2 million through CDF.

The school had 12 classrooms with the capacity to hold 480-600 pupils, three labs, four offices, library, boardroom, lavatories, kitchen and stores.

The BBI budget could have set up 207 such schools.

With 47 counties, the money would make it possible to have four such schools in every county.