This archive report was first published on 21 August 2021.
On August 21, 2021, the Appeal Court delivered a landmark ruling on the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), declaring it unconstitutional. The decision has been met with a mix of reactions from leaders across the political divide.
ODM leader Raila Odinga, a key proponent of the BBI, described the judgment as 'remarkable' and part of the ongoing conversation on Kenya's future. He noted that the next move would be decided separately by the BBI proponents, but indicated that there were no plans to move to the Supreme Court.
According to Odinga, the parties involved will make their own decisions on how to proceed from the delivered decision. He emphasized the need to deliberate on the issues involved to the fullest extent.
For Odinga, it is now time to focus on the country's challenges, noting that the BBI was not a destination but a journey in an ever-evolving way of life.
Other leaders, including Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru and One Kenya Alliance principals, have also welcomed the decision. Waiguru called for serious introspection on the political way forward, while the OKA principals respected the judgment and argued that it was time for the country to focus on the coronavirus crisis and economic recovery.
Deputy President William Ruto, on the other hand, viewed the decision as a major win for his Hustler nation. He said God had stopped what he termed as 'coalition of the known' and that the focus now would be on building the economy through his bottom-up model.
