This archive report was first published on 30 October 2019.
On October 29, 2019, Nyandarua County Governor Francis Kimemia addressed a press conference at the Sarova Panafraic Hotel in Nairobi, where he and three other governors from central Kenya outlined their conditions for backing the Building Bridges Initiative report.
The governors, who include Kiraitu Murungi (Meru), Ndiritu Muriithi (Laikipia), and Martin Wambora (Embu), have stated that they will only support the report if it addresses the region's economic interests and proposes more cash for counties.
According to Mr. Kimemia, the chairman of the Central Region Economic Bloc, the governors will examine the contents of the report once released and give a way forward. He emphasized that the governors will support any initiative that increases allocations to the counties for development.
Mr. Muriithi urged leaders to wait for the report to be released so that they can engage in meaningful dialogue as opposed to verbal wars currently being witnessed. He stated, “All leaders are free to debate how the affairs of the country are going to be managed. It is, however, not wise to start fires even before the public familiarises itself with the contents of the report.”
Speaking at the same press conference, Governor Murungi expressed concerns that politicians were engaging in futile debate without the detailed contents of the report. He stated, “We support the intentions of the BBI which include unity, peace and inclusivity but our concern is that there has been too much speculation.”
