How Ruto overcame his demons during the BBI Launch.

Deputy President William Ruto addressing delegates during the BBI Launch at Bomas of Kenya. Image: Courtesy

By Yuvenalis Wakoli.

Energy levels among delegates at the Bomas of Kenya hit the roof top, the audience cheering his radical proposals on entrenching gender equity and elevating the senate to an Upper House while at the same time attracting heckling from a section of the pre vetted audience over his critisms of reforms seeking to expand the executive.

Despite the heckling, the Deputy President soldiered on addressing issues that were covered in the BBI report that were not withstanding according to him. He addressed issues on Judiciary, IEBC, the Youths, women leadership, the police service, county allocations and the role of senators as stated in the report.

On the Judiciary, the Dp said that the proposal on the establishment on the office of the Ombudsman, which will be appointed by the executive is a derogation of the independence of the Judiciary. Ruto said that that this might take the country back to the days where the president used to issue guidelines to judges in some cases via a mere phone call.

He addressed the reforms that were to be made on the IEBC stating that political parties participate in appointment of IEBC commissioners then used football example “How fair will be a league, where the referee is appointed by teams? He wondered. “… unless you tell me it’s ok for some teams to appoint the referee..and if it is that you saying, I have my reservations”.

He also questioned the independence of the police force under new proposals of the BBI report. He said that the 2020 constitution was very clear that police must act independently of any politician and to recommend that the police council be chaired by a cabinet secretary is a derogation of the independence of the police.

While addressing on youths and employment, he responded to a question raised by a youth speaker who was against ” 16th century tools'” which include the wheelbarrow and Carts. The Dp said “I’m sure he (speaker) was referring to me..how comes on the 21st century, millions of citizens ate still dependent on wheelbarrows and mikokoteni? That’s a discussion that involves millions of Kenyans” he said.

On inclusivity, the Deputy president said the document does not address what he termed as “elephant in the room”. “Explain to me how having a President who will appoint the prime minister from the winning coalition and runners up being opposition leader will sort out the ‘winner takes it’ all question. Forgive me if am slow”. The Dp said again amidst the jeers from a section of delegates.

On devolution, the Dp said that increasing resources to county government from 15% to 35% will need to be accompanied by strengthening the senate. He also highlighted his opinion on removal of Women Representative positions from Parliament needs to be revisited.

On the heckling delegates, the Deputy president lamented, “Today you may have the latitude to do what you think is right to you. Tomorrow the shoe will be on the other foot”. He insisted on Kenyans to be given time to read and understand the report well and not to hurry for referendum.

The Pros and Cons of the BBI Report.

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.

10 Predictions on the BBI Report.

The President with the BBI initiative’s taskforce. Image: Courtesy

By Yuvenalis Wakoli.

BBI’s key proposals aims to ensure inclusively as well as end divisive politics that has continued to hit the country after every general election.

Here are the 10 predictions on what might be on the BBI report.

1. A President directly nominated by the people. No running mate. He or she then appoints a Vice President who is the principal assistant to the President.

2. A President after winning appoints the prime minister who will be from any member of the majority party or a coalition of the majority.

3. The Prime minister is the supervisor and coordinator of all ministries. The prime minister has two deputies all appointed by the President from the majority party or coalition of the majority.

4. The Prime minister and his deputies can be relieved off their positions by the president without approval of Parliament.

Ministers can be appointed from Parliament and those appointed from outside Parliament become ex official members of Parliament.

5. All the current 290 constituencies to be retained in the national assembly.

6. Members representing the individual constituencies in the national assembly will be based on a county party list presented to the elections body prior to the elections date.

7. All the current 47 counties will be retained in the Senate. The senate will have 94 members. Each county will be represented by two elected representatives of separate genders.

8. All 47 county governments will be retained. Nairobi will have a special status with some of the critical functions being managed by the national government.

9. The Governor will run on a sole ticket without a running mate and will appoint a deputy on election from the opposite gender.

10. The counties will be allocated a minimum of 35 percent of the national assembly.

NB: This 10 predictions are not on the final report. But are just predictions on what might be on final report of the BBI.