This archive report was first published on 23 November 2019.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto have sharply disagreed over the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) in a series of public statements.
Published on November 23, 2019, President Kenyatta urged leaders to stop opposing the BBI without fully understanding its contents.
Speaking at a function at Kibabii University, President Kenyatta said those opposing the BBI are reckless and have failed to address the country's problems.
"It is reckless to say there are no problems in the country that need to be solved. There is no need for insults, as some people claim they do not want it and do not even know what is inside," President Kenyatta said.
However, Deputy President Ruto, speaking at a function at Bomas, said the BBI is a tool of politics being used by some individuals to gain popularity ahead of the 2022 elections.
Deputy President Ruto described those behind the BBI as crooks and said Kenyans will reject the initiative.
"Kenyan citizens are not fools to accept the hidden agenda in the BBI meant to achieve political gain by 2022," Deputy President Ruto said.
He added, "You cannot hide the chaos and corruption within the BBI or the handouts. Corruption is corruption."
President Kenyatta and Deputy President Ruto have been at odds over the BBI, with the President supporting it and the Deputy opposing it.
