Skip to main content

Raila Resurfaces, issues an Ultimatum on BBI Bill

ODM leader Raila Odinga has claimed that the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) Bill must be subjected to a national plebiscite. Raila resurfaced on Wednesday, during the Party’s top leadership forum. It was his first public appearance since he contracted Covid-19.
Apart from Raila, the meeting was also attended by Senate Minority Leader James Orengo, National Assembly Minority Leader John Mbadi, National Assembly Minority Whip Junet Mohamed and ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna.
“We agreed that the BBI must be subjected to a referendum because it entails a fundamental reorganization of the architecture of the Executive and Kenyans need to have a say in the reorganization. The party therefore fully supports a referendum on the document,” Raila stated.
The opposition leader asserted that the National Assembly should expedite the process before releasing the document to the public. Raila’s sentiments come a day after ODM Deputy Party Leader who doubles as Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya claimed that BBI Bill was bound to collapse and should be postponed.
Oparanya averred that the process of conducting a referendum was costly and should be merged with the next general elections to curtail the colossal budget.
“If there is no money at the national treasury, there is no need of pushing to have a referendum this year. We should plan to hold the referendum next year when our economy has stabilized and Covid-19 has been contained,” Oparanya said.
Last week, there emerged some division among ODM legislators who were pushing to have some more control in the amendments to the 2020 constitution of Kenya amendment Bill.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Power of the Phone in Political Revolutions - a Case Study of Kenyan Genzs

Kenya's June 2024 #RejectFinanceBill2024 protests are Africa's clearest example of how the smartphone replaced the party, the podium and the press release as the engine of revolution. Unlike previous opposition-led protests, this was leaderless and tribeless, it would not have happened. 1. The Phone as Parliament a) Translation and Civic Education The Finance Bill 2024 was 100+ pages of tax jargon. On TikTok, Gen Zs broke it down in 60-second videos in English, Swahili, Sheng, and vernacular. They used ChatGPT to explain clauses like "16% VAT on bread" and "2.5% motor vehicle tax" to a boda rider in Kisumu and a student in Mombasa simultaneously. b) The Phonebook as a Weapon Activists leaked MPs' phone numbers on X. Influencer Amerix and others encouraged Kenyans to spam calls, SMS and WhatsApp with "Reject the Bill". Parliament's switchboard collapsed. It was direct digital lobbying - no need to march to Parliament when Parliament is in yo...
Post a Comment
Read more

Kenyans surprised over UDA's 'Voters Repair' remarks for President Ruto 2027 reelection

 Kenyans are reacting strongly to remarks by some UDA leaders that many interpret as hints at election manipulation ("ukarabati ya kura" / "voters repair") ahead of the 2027 presidential election. What Happened On or around May 23, 2026, NTV Kenya and other outlets aired footage from a UDA meeting at Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula's home.  Leaders including Savula and MP Charles Gimose reportedly used phrases like "tutafanya ukarabati ya kura" (we will repair/do maintenance on the votes).  Some comments referenced high victory margins in places like Tanzania under Samia Suluhu or Museveni-style wins. This has been widely seen as implying plans to "fix" or pad results in favor of President William Ruto's reelection, rather than a literal call for better voter registration or system maintenance. Public Reaction 1. Surprise and outrage: Many Kenyans on X and social media expressed shock, viewing it as arrogant or desperate signaling am...
Post a Comment
Read more

How to commercialize your prototype innovation in Kenya

Commercializing a prototype in Kenya involves transforming your innovation from a proof-of-concept stage into a marketable product or service that generates revenue. This process requires protecting your intellectual property (IP), validating market demand, securing funding, and selecting the right business model.  Kenya has a supportive ecosystem with government agencies, grants, and innovation hubs to help.  Below is a step-by-step guide based on established practices and resources. 1. Protect Your Intellectual Property (IP) Before commercialization, safeguard your innovation to prevent copying. In Kenya, IP protection is handled by the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI). Register your IP : File for patents, trademarks, copyrights, or industrial designs. Patents are crucial for inventions and provide a 20-year monopoly.  Start with a patent search to ensure novelty, then apply via KIPI's online portal. Costs range from KSh 3,000–50,000 depending on the type. Why...
Post a Comment
Read more