This archive report was first published on 27 November 2019.
On November 27, 2019, the public launch of the Building Bridges Initiative report at Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi turned into a drama-filled event. The Senate Majority Leader, Kipchumba Murkomen, was at the center of the controversy when he accused the organizers of excluding people who hold a different opinion.
Leaders backing the unity between President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition chief Raila Odinga dominated the speeches during the event. However, the Tanga Tanga team allied to Deputy President William Ruto felt sidelined, with some of its members appearing lost during the fully-packed event.
It was a tense moment when Senator Murkomen was heckled, forcing BBI taskforce chairman Yusuf Haji to intervene to calm down the delegates who were shouting at him. The event, which attracted applause from participants and was streamed live in most local television stations, was meant to showcase the unity between the two leaders.
