Raila Odinga accepts defeat in BBI court battle

ODM party leader Raila Odinga has accepted the Court of Appeal verdict upholding the High Court ruling that declared as unconstitutional the push to amend the Constitution through the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).

In a brief statement issued as the Appellate Court delivered the judgment, Odinga said he has moved on, adding that parties involved in the BBI process will make their own decisions on the way forward.

“The decision of the Court of Appeal today is remarkable as it forms part of the continuing conversation on the future of this country and the significance of our new Constitution to the political culture we and the generations that will come after us will practice,” said Odinga.

“It is likely that this is not the end of the conversation and the parties involved will each make their own decisions on how to proceed from the decision that has been delivered today.”

He added: “For us, as we have stated before, we shall engage only to the extent that circumstances will require. But we feel that we have to move on.”

The ODM leader remained upbeat that issues they were trying to address through the BBI would be addressed through other avenues.

“…we feel that we must now see the forest for the trees, and pursue the bigger goal of setting the rest of the issues facing this country right. The Building Bridges Initiative was never a destination but a journey in an ever evolving way of life. Without doubt, we shall deal with all the issues in the months and years that will unfold onwards,” he said.

Odinga on Wednesday ruled out moving to the Supreme Court should the Court of Appeal uphold the High Court decision stopping the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) process.

The former premier said moving to the Supreme Court will be a waste of time, adding that he is now concentrating on the current preparations for the 2022 polls.

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