The Senate Majority Whip Irungu Kang’ata as called for an urgent change of strategy on popularization of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) in Mount Kenya region.
In a letter to President Uhuru Kenyatta, Kang’ata argued that BBI was unpopular in region, further stating that his survey had revealed that 6 out of 10 persons from the region will reject the initiative.
According to Kang’ata, the decision to use provincial administration i.e. chiefs has painted a negative image where some residents believe that the government is forcefully pushing BBI on them.
He further notes that the decision to use former MPs has not augured well with some current elected leaders, who have opted to take a back seat on the push.
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“The role of provincial administration (and other forms of hard tactics) in BBI mobilization is being framed as an example of Government using its hard power to force its citizens to endorse BBI. Government supporting legislators in the region have been edged out of BBI programs in favor of their local political competitors.
“I will cite the example of MP. Kangema, Hon.Muturi Kigano, who has been steadfastly supporting government since 2017. He chairs the strategic committee of Justice and Legal Affairs of the National Assembly. Notwithstanding this, his political rival is spearheading BBI in Kangema to Kigano's exclusion. This grievance is silently brewing among MPs in the National Assembly,” his letter read in part.
Kahata recommended that the President should use his influence and rally all MPs from the region to back the initiative, and also act as the face of the BBI push in the region.
