Mt Kenya clerics and Akorino sect threaten to oppose BBI report

A section of religious leaders from the larger Mt Kenya region have threatened to oppose the recently released Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report.

Under the banner of United Fellowship of Christian Churches, the religious leaders said they will oppose the report because it’s championed by corrupt and tainted politicians.

Bishop Johanna Ndirangu of Bible Truth Israel Church argued that many proponents of BBI report have pending corruption and other integrity cases in courts.

“It is quite unfortunate that some of the leaders given the mandate to spearhead BBI campaigns are the same people with pending corruption cases in court” Ndirangu said.

The men of cloth have vowed to fail President Uhuru Kenyatta and the document.

President Kenyatta who hails from the region is backing the document which is a product of his handshake with the opposition leader Raila Odinga.

The initiative has seen has widened the rift between leaders supporting different political factions and those supporting the President and Odinga in drumming support for the report to be adopted without going through further scrutinies.

The opposing camp has Deputy President William Ruto and his allies have threatened to shoot BBI down unless it is opened for further amendments.

Ruto has categorically stated that he will not support the report if it does not benefit the common man.

BBI aims to expand the executive by creating the position of the Prime Minister with two deputies. Representation in the parliament will also be increased among among other recommendations that if adopted will increase the wage bill.

Ruto and his allies are putting a strong case for the poor, saying their resolve for inclusion of agricultural reforms; small and medium business enterprises among other demands must be looked into.

Politicians allied to Ruto are laying the ground to oppose the report during the planned referendum.

They have agreed to oppose the report if President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga fail to address concerns raised by the DP during the launch of the document at the Bomas.

Ruto argued that the report does not solve the problem of inclusivity since it powers the president to appoint the PM.