By Yuvenalis Wakoli.

The Most awaited final BBI report is out and Kenyans are urged to read, understand it and make informed decision about it.

This after the two leaders Raila Odinga and Uhuru Kenyatta shook hands to create an opportunity to unite the country and set in motions a process to identify comprehensive changes that will strengthen the rule of law, unite Kenyans, deepen our constitution and launch a comprehensive reform process to consolidate this momentous opportunity.

The report has its pros and cons and Kenyans have come up with various views according to their understanding of the report. Some have read, some haven’t read and some don’t know what is going on.

Kenyans are urged to quote clauses on the BBI report when making decisions of disagreeing or agreeing with the report rather than moving sentiments of “reject BBI” without giving reasons of rejecting it.

The BBI report has come with its pros and cons, and the pro part of it is that it has addressed issues affecting youths, gender balance, Health sector, corruption, tribalism and the wellness of the county governments etc.

On the part of youths, the BBI states that their will be minimization of taxation to new and small businesses, by giving them a tax holiday of atleast 7 years as a support to youth entrepreneurship and job creation, reducing the cost of doing business and impediments to starting enterprises, repaying back of HELB loans after 4 years by graduates etc.

On the gender side, the report states that the 2/3 gender rule will be passed to enable women in elective posts, hence recognising women in various seats. The report also States that 30% of opportunities in the counties and wards are reserved for youths, women, PWD and minorities to support SMEs.

Their will also be affordable and reliable access to digital platforms in the villages and wards to promote e- commerce in grassroot level. Increasing lending to small businesses etc.

On taxation, the report states that their will be elimination of double taxation at the national and county level. Ensuring tax revenues are located towards development outcomes that benefits tax payers, minimizing taxation of small and medium businesses by giving them a tax holiday of atleast 7 years as support to youth entrepreneurship and job creation.

Stakeholders also pushed for an economy with the means to enable the country to be able to offer the kind of social and economic protection and support referred to article 43 of the constitution.

Corruption cases will also be heard between a period of 2 years and judgement made hence this will help reduce corruption. The report also states that it will solve issues facing unemployment rates in Kenya etc.

On the cons side of the report, the report will give the president much powers hence risks of turning into a dictator. Too much posts which are unnecessary, the report states that their will be one 1 President, 1 Vice President, A Prime minister, 2 deputy prime ministers, Opposition leader, 94 senators- two from each county, Governors, deputy governors, cabinet ministers, MPs etc.

The report also will give burden to ordinary tax payers who will pay salary for those all positions. The report favours much the leaders but not ordinary citizens,

The president will nominate the judiciary ombudsman with the approval of National assembly hence risk of the President interfering with the work of the judiciary, the president appoints 4 IEBC official hence given powers to control elections. The IEBC should be an independent body, same to judiciary and legislature.

Finally the report seems to state the winner takes everything since the president appoints almost every elective post. Hence tribalism will still prevail.

Kenyans should read the report and come up with their views if it will be good to pass the report or fail it. The list above is just but a small portion of what is on the BBI report.