BBI team yet to collect views in five counties

Building Bridges Initiative chairman Yusuf Haji (left), vice chair Adams Oloo and the task force secretary Paul Mwangi (right) address the media in Nairobi on July 15, 2019. [Collins Kweyu]

The Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) task-force is yet to collect views from five counties on issues Kenyans would want addressed.

BBI Vice Chairman Adams Oloo told The Standard the team had so far visited 42 counties. He named the remaining counties as Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Bungoma, Nairobi and Tana River.

“We are asking Kenyans to be patient and bear with us (as we) collect and collate Kenyans' views on how best they want to be governed and/or to fix our problems," said Dr Oloo (pictured).

The task-force was formed on March 9, 2018, after President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga reached a political truce - handshake - to end hostility among Kenyans.

BBI, has been gathering views on the nine issues identified as problems ailing Kenya.

"Ideally, we would be remaining with only four counties to go. But our plane carrying task-force members to Tana River County couldn't land in the area last week," Oloo said.

This happened because the Hola airstrip was found to be waterlogged and unfit for landing. The Tana River session was then put forward to this week.

BBI is to make proposals on policy, legislative and constitutional changes as well as on institutional review necessary to address nine challenges.

The issues are tribalism, lack of national ethos, inclusivity, devolution, divisive elections, security, corruption, shared prosperity and responsibilities and rights. "They are expected to make far-reaching proposals touching on the political, economic and social architecture of our society," ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna told The Standard.

Yesterday, Oloo explained that BBI was on course and would not be disrupted by proposals made by the Punguza Mzigo initiative by Third Way Alliance Party.