This archive report was first published on 3 November 2019.
Published on November 3rd, 2019, the BBI report has sparked intense debate in Kenya, with some leaders opposing it and others calling for a more nuanced approach.
One of the key concerns raised by Mt Kenya leaders is the need for equity in the distribution of parliamentary constituencies and county fund allocations. While this is a sentiment shared by the entire mainstream leadership across the region, the approach taken by some leaders has been criticized as short-sighted and provocative.
Adan Duale, the National Assembly Majority Leader, has been at the forefront of the opposition to the BBI, proposing a counter-proposal for a parliamentary system. However, this move has been seen as an attempt to derail the BBI process and has provoked leaders from other regions to start marshalling their positions to counter them.
On the other hand, a group of governors from the Central Region Economic Bloc, led by Nyandarua Governor Francis Kimemia, have cautioned against throwing 'emotive' barbs at the BBI report before it is made public. They have stressed that they will evaluate the BBI by how it treats devolution, specifically on the matter of transferring more funds to county governments.
As the debate continues, it is clear that the underlying jostling over BBI is symptomatic of the raw divisions that have quickly emerged and which have taken unusual turns. The DP's camp has been dead set against any proposed expansion of the Executive to accommodate the office of prime minister and deputies, and Ruto remains deeply hostile to the BBI, which he believes is a ploy to block him from his all-consuming ambition to become president.
However, the equity in constituency representation that Mt Kenya leaders are fronting for can be bargained for in either parliamentary or presidential systems. Why not think out of the box and consider a federal system, which has been preferred by many countries? Federalism can contain the naked tribalism we see in Kenya in a constitutional format, allowing each region to fare differently.
