Kalonzo finally speaks out over court ruling on BBI Bill
Wiper Movement party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has called on Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) Bill proponents to stop vilifying the Judiciary and respect due process.
In a statement on Monday, Kalonzo said he did not agree with the judgement on BBI Bill delivered by a five-judge bench on Thursday but he respected it.
"In the all-important role of nation building we must exercise restraint from anything that could plunge the nation into a crisis. We must all respect the institution that the judiciary is," he said.
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The Wiper leader asked the politicians who have castigated the ruling to allow due process to take its course.
"As far as the BBI is concerned we are guided by the rule of law and our right to appeal the decision of the high court at the Court of Appeal. No one promised us a quick or smooth journey. So we must stay the course," Kalonzo said.
He added: "The primary intent of BBI is to build real national bridges, not divisions. To build and sustain national ethos, values and a more cohesive society. That kind of mature democracy means that we may not always agree, but we can always respect one another, and most of all, respect of Constitution, and the institutions it has created."
The judges said the constitution amendment bill was irregular, illegal and unconstitutional.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and his political nemesis-turned-ally, Raila Odinga, unveiled the initiative after a truce following the contentious 2017 election, which saw violent clashes around the country.
The debate has dominated Kenya's politics for the past two years and is closely linked to the battle to succeed Mr Kenyatta, who is due to step down next year.
The two leaders said the initiative, which proposes, among others, the expansion of the executive arm of government, would make the country's politics more inclusive.
But critics say it is a selfish initiative to reward political dynasties, and that it will lead to a bloated parliament and executive which Kenya - a country already burdened by debt- cannot afford.
The BBI bill had been passed by the National Assembly and the Senate before Thursday's court ruling and was awaiting a presidential assent, after which Kenyans would have headed to a referendum before next year's elections.
