Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong’o on Wednesday asked Kenyans to support the BBI saying they should first look out for its benefits before slaying the messengers.
Speaking during an interview on a local TV station, the governor said he is confident that President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga have the interests of Kenyans at heart.
“If after the election people will feel they are included and after the election there is not going be winner-take-all, you reduce the chances of violence tremendously.
“It is the issue of inclusivity that is important here…I would like us to discuss these issues much more seriously than slaying the messenger and not looking at the message,” he said.
Adding: “I do not believe in an intellectual exercise that begins by saying, ‘I do not like the face of the messenger.’
“I listened to President Uhuru Kenyatta during Mashujaa Day celebrations and at KICC (during the launch of the BBI signature drive)….before the 2017 election, I would not believe President Kenyatta would say things like those. I do not think they (Uhuru and Raila) are tricking us.
Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana, however, holds a different opinion, alleging that the BBI is all about influencing the outcome of the next election.
Speaking to journalists on Monday, the Makueni boss said he believes that a bill meant to amend the Constitution should be limited to only one constitutional issue at a time thus safeguarding the constitution from being abused, replaced, or completely overhauled and protecting the right of free citizen participation.
“It makes it easy for the public to understand what issue is proposed to be amended and for the people to freely exercise their will on whether to support the amendment without being confused about having to choose between too many issues,” he said.
Kibwana is also asking the Supreme Court to clarify if the popular initiative route was set out exclusively for the people and whether it is legal for public and state officers to use the same to promote a bill to amend the Constitution.
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