ODM and the larger Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party leader Raila Odinga has laid the ground for his next battle line after losing his fifth presidential campaign.
The ODM boss now sets eyes on the halted Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), whose recommendations he argues President William Ruto "wants to implement via the back door".
He says that starting January in the new year, the political faction he leads will revisit the BBI proposals and champion them to the latter.
He said the process would be citizenry-based, and that Kenyans will be made to participate in anticipation of an ultimate plebiscite.
Raila's fresh zeal for the constitutional amendment was relighted by Ruto's memorandum to the houses of parliament which he asked to consider a review of the Constitution to allow;
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The creation of the Office of Official Opposition, National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) and also the review of the gender rule.
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Raila argues the above was well captured in the BBI, thus the need to have it fully revisited.
The Supreme Court annulled the BBI in March this year after a battle in the High and Appellate courts.
The apex court ruled that the constitutional amendment process did not meet the required constitutional requirement.
Earlier, Raila had restated that his quest for democratic and electoral reforms is still intact.
Speaking in Awendo on Friday, December 22, he called for calmness among his supporters ahead of his major announcement in January 2023.
He said much was yet to be done, reiterating that he would not relent despite losing the presidential election.
"I want you to know that it is not over. This matter is not over. I had said I did not want to talk about it but in the coming month, I will give you the direction we are going to take," he said.
Raila said he would give his followers direction soon. Photo: Facebook.
Recently, Raila turned the heat on President William Ruto over his proposed constitutional amendments.
In a detailed statement, the Former Prime Minister accused the President of dishonesty saying the very issues he is raising were well captured in the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).
He said the President has puzzled him with his proposal given that these are the things he opposed before clinching the presidency.
The ODM leader wanted the President to follow the very steps that the Supreme Court directed on any constitutional amendments.
"The memorandum of His Excellency Hon. William Ruto to the speakers of both the National Assembly and the Senate proposing several amendments of the Constitution of Kenya is puzzling to many Kenyans and myself as it undoubtedly seeks to re-introduce the same matters that had for many months been suggested by the Building Bridges Initiative.
For a similar period, the same had been vehemently opposed by Mr. Ruto when he went around the country campaigning in the years 2018-2021.
I find it puzzling because the memorandum presents these proposals without any recognition that the BBI reports, which are official government documents, contain all these proposals coupled with the rationale why these suggestions had been found to be necessary by the people of Kenya who participated in the process" he said.
