Lobby urges Kenyans to read BBI report objectively
A civil society group has waded into the controversial Building Bridges (BBI) report saying Kenyans should be allowed to evaluate the report in an open and objective way before taking the next step.
In a statement to newsrooms yesterday, Civil Society Reference Group (CSRG) expressed concerns over what it termed as politicians hijacking the report even before it has been released officially to Kenyans.
Presiding Convener (CSRG) Suba Churchill, said the argument by those opposed to the report may not be serving the interests of Kenyans, more so when such arguments are advanced by individuals who opposed the adoption of the very Constitution in 2010 on account that it had areas that needed to be fixed first before adopting it.
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“It would be absurd if anyone out there were to be opposed to a process merely on account that they are not the initiators, key actors or members of the team charged with steering the process and preparing the report,” he said.
Open minds
Churchill further took a swipe at the critics saying they are yet to tell the public why they do not want those aspects of the Constitution that they recognised as early as in 2010 to be problematic revisited now.
“Instead, Kenyans should be left to debate and dialogue among themselves with an open mind, based on their objective evaluation of the historical context and contemporary state of affairs in the country,” he added.
Allies of the Deputy President William Ruto have been opposing the BBI saying the review of the constitution should more of empowering Kenyans but not creating positions for the elite.
Further, Ruto has been on record calling for a sober, inclusive and objective conversation on all proposals contained in the BBI report to ensure the views of all Kenyans count and create a win-win outcome.
Interestingly, It is understood that the final report has retained the proposal for the creation of the position of a powerful prime minister, two deputies and selection of ministers from the National Assembly.
