On Tuesday, the IEBC cleared the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) referendum push after it verified over one million signatures in support of the document.
Following IEBC’s approval, the BBI Bill has now been sent to county assemblies for deliberation and consideration. For the Bill to pass, it must have the backing of at least 24 out of the 47 counties.
While many expect the BBI Bill to have a smooth sailing in most parts of the country, analysts have predicted that the push could face resistance in several counties.
All the 13 counties in Rift Valley namely; Turkana, West Pokot, Samburu, Trans-nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet, Nandi, Baringo, Laikipia, Nakuru, Kajiado, Kericho, and Bomet are considered as battlegrounds with analysts predicting that BBI could face a tough time in these counties as the region is Deputy President William Ruto’s home turf.
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In the Coast region, analysts believe that Ruto has been making inroads and could possibly turn tables in one or two counties with the most likely one being Kwale, where he has the backing of Governor Salim Mvurya.
The Nyanza region is known to unanimously rally behind ODM Leader Raila Odinga and nothing is expected to change this time around. The same applies to Western Kenya where the region’s top leaders have expressed support for BBI.
In the Mt Kenya region, there is some form of resistance to BBI, but analysts believe that leaders from the area will toe the line after meeting President Uhuru Kenyatta over the weekend.
In Nairobi, Jubilee and ODM control the house as was witnessed in the impeachment of Mike Sonko. This, therefore, means that BBI will face limited or no resistance in the Nairobi County Assembly.
