This archive report was first published on 1 December 2019.
On December 1, 2019, the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report was released, sparking a national conversation on its recommendations for Kenya's future.
Twenty months prior, President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga, then-rivals, met to seek peace after a tumultuous post-election period. They formed a task force to gather views on nine key areas and propose changes to Kenya's policy and legislative framework.
The task force submitted its findings last week, followed by a launch at the Bomas of Kenya. While opinions on the report vary, the BBI Report is a set of recommendations that touch on various aspects of Kenya's collective existence.
Associate Professor of Psychiatry LUKOYE ATWOLI highlights a few recommendations worthy of note, starting with a national conversation that begins with the report but extends beyond it to envision the kind of country Kenyans want for current and future generations.
Atwoli emphasizes the importance of ensuring every Kenyan has a stake in the country's future, using the phrase 'skin in the game' coined by the report's drafters.
Another significant proposal is the reorganization of Kenya's health services, bringing human resources under one institution, the Health Services Commission. This would address the frequent industrial unrest in the health sector, which has resulted in the loss of many lives.
Finally, the report's proposals to strengthen national mental health services, including for security personnel, are applauded. The recommendation for national and county departments of happiness, wellness, and mental health is seen as a crucial step towards developing a happier and more productive citizenry.
Implementing these changes would lay the groundwork for tackling the remaining issues in the report, providing a foundation for the bridges Kenya wants to build.
