This archive report was first published on 27 November 2019.
Kenyatta, Ruto, and Odinga Urge Kenyans to Engage in Sober Debate on BBI Report ¶
President Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy President William Ruto, and Opposition leader Raila Odinga have called on Kenyans to engage in sober debate on the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report, launched on November 27, 2019.
Speaking at the launch of the report, President Kenyatta urged Kenyans to read the report and make their own decisions on the way forward, warning leaders not to be overtaken by their own ambitions for power.
"It is only God who knows who will be Kenya's fifth president," President Kenyatta said, in a veiled statement directed at his deputy who has been campaigning to take over from him in 2022.
Deputy President Ruto also pleaded with leaders not to polarize the country as they embark on debate about the report, saying, "I am very confident that we have what it takes to ensure we make the best of this document."
Opposition leader Raila Odinga told Kenyans that the BBI report is not about anyone, but a document for all Kenyans, urging them to interrogate it in a sober manner and look at the benefits it has for Kenyans.
Other leaders, including Amani National Congress party leader Musalia Mudavadi and Ford Kenya Party leader Moses Wetangula, also called for sobriety while debating the report, cautioning against making it about sharing positions.
