A section of lawmakers from Mount Kenya region have threatened to shoot down Building Bridges Initiative report if it fails to address their perennial problems.
Over 40 MPs and Senators drawn from the region issued what they termed as irreducible minimum conditions for the region to support the anticipated BBI report, top of their list is what they called “injustices in representation”.
The politicians are concerned about the under-representation of their people at all levels compared to the population and the number of voters in the wider region. They warned that they would reject BBI’s proposals if they deem them as further disadvantaging their communities.
In a statement read by Ndaragwa Mp Jeremiah Kioni, the leaders also stated that inclusivity must be reflected even in representation in Parliament and other spheres. They must have correct number of seats in Parliament that represent their population.
The lawmakers also added that they would hold a retreat for all leaders from the region as soon as the contents of the BBI report were made public, to consider its recommendations and come up with a common stand.
The leaders were however clear as they promised to oppose any attempt to have the country’s top leader elected by Parliament.
They argued that many constituencies in the region have more than the 104,000 registered voters per constituency but were still accorded an equal vote in Parliament as those with less voters.
Led by Jeremiah Kioni and Senator Mithika Linturi, the legislators claimed that counties in their region suffered injustices in resource distribution against their huge populations.
They added that they expected the report to address issues contested by the church and other stakeholders who opposed the Constitution in 2010.
The leaders also claimed that they are not inclined to the Kieleweke which is expected to support BBI report or Tanga Tanga team which has promised to shoot down the report for expanding the executive.
Gatundu South Mp Moses Luria who also signed the joint statement later seemed to be backtracking. Kuria had been warned to stop going against the President and he heeded. President Uhuru Kenyatta and Opposition Chief Raila Odinga are proponents of the BBI.
