This archive report was first published on 24 December 2019.
William Ruto Spells Out Conditions for BBI Support ¶
Deputy President William Ruto has stated that he will support the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report if citizens are given the final say in passing its recommendations into law.
Speaking in Luanda, Vihiga county on December 23, 2019, Ruto said he supported the recommendations of the Yusuf Haji-led taskforce and urged those charged with furnishing the report to ensure Kenyans have the final say.
"I am not going to oppose anything about the BBI report but what is important is that people must be allowed to decide on whether they want it or not," Ruto said.
He added, "Whatever name they want to call the system that they will want us to have, then let it be. I will, however, oppose any attempt to lock citizens out of this. The final decision must not be made by some people in boardrooms," said Ruto.
Earlier, Ruto had warned the BBI taskforce against settling on a referendum terming the exercise as expensive for the country.
Section of leaders from the Mount Kenya region, among them Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri, have suggested that if a referendum is to be held, then it should be done alongside the 2022 General Election.
They hold that to cushion the country from heavy expenditure, then the BBI should be adopted through Parliament.
