Government to distribute 10m copies of BBI report, Kibicho says

Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho. [Jame Mugambi, Standard]

 The government has produced over 10 million copies of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report for distribution to Kenyans, Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho has announced.

Kibicho, who spoke on Saturday at Gathuthiini Primary School in Ndia after the opening of four new classrooms, said the government wanted Kenyans to know what the report contains.

He accused leaders claiming not to have seen the report of dishonesty, saying a soft copy of the report has been in distribution online. 

”Tutaleta copies watu wajisomee ndivo tuache visingizio (We will bring copies for Kenyans to read so that people don’t have excuses to oppose,” said Dr Kibicho.

He had earlier held a meeting with Members of Kirinyaga County Assembly where he urged them to support the Bill.

“If you are not supporting BBI, then you are my enemies because I am working under Uhuru Kenyatta who I will retire with in 2022 as per our agreement in 2013,” said the PS.

He said the BBI will secure projects and programmes dear to Mt Kenya citing the revival of collapsed institutions such as the National Irrigation Board, Kenya Planters Cooperatives Union (KPCU), Coffee Research Foundation and the Pyrethrum Board of Kenya.

“At the Mwea rice scheme, we have low yields in rice production for farmers who used to harvest over 40 bags per acre,” he added, citing the dairy industry as an example of what robust government institutions can give farmers.

In Embu, Speaker Josiah Thiriku has denied claims that they have already made a decision to pass the BBI Bill.

He said the Assembly will conduct public participation in the four sub-counties of Manyatta, Runyenjes, Mbeere South, and Mbeere North before subjecting the document to a vote on February 23.

Speaking during a training session for all MCAs at Mountain Breeze in Embu by lawyers from the BBI secretariat, Thiriku said the training was meant for all Mt Kenya MCAs to ensure they understand the document before taking it to the public.

He denied that car grants given to MCAs recently would influence their decision, citing the rejection of the Bill by the Baringo MCAs.