The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has now directed all the party Members of Parliament (MPs) to align themselves accordingly with the party position on the Building Bridges Initiative(BBI) Bill.
In a press statement, leader of minority party, National Assembly of Kenya John Mbadi said that it is the party’s position that Parliament should pass the BBI Bill as it is, in it’s entirety.
“Tomorrow, Parliament will commence a two day special sitting to deliberate on a number of critical national issues. One of thee critical issues is the Constitution of Kenya Amendment Bill 2020 or the BBI Bill as it is popularly known,” he said.
“I called you here to make clear the position of the orange Democratic Movement on that Bill and to advise all our MPs to align themselves accordingly. This is therefore a rallying call to our members to align themselves accordingly with the party position.”
Mbadi appealed to ODM members and supporters to prepare to vote for the Bill once it is presented to them in the referendum.
According to Mbadi, though the party did not get everything they wanted in the Bill, there are some very important gains in the BBI that the party would not want to throw out.
He noted that ODM has always advocated for strengthening of devolved units and increased funding for those units.
“The BBI Bill increases funding to counties and extends funds to the wards. That is a gain we can’t throw away,” he added.
On corruption, Mbadi further said that ODM has been very vocal on fighting corruption.
He said the BBI Bill has some very practical and radical proposals on how to stop corruption from being a way of life in the country.
Further, he added that ODM has always stood up for equitable sharing of the wealth of the nation.
“Equity has been our rallying call as a party since our inception. The BBI has some very solid proposals on how to ensure shared prosperity in the country. We do not want to throw away those proposals,” he added.
“ODM supporters have borne the brunt of election violence in this country. We know what happened in 2007, 2013 and 2017. BBI has some solid proposals on how to end the culture of election violence and the winner takes all brand of our politics. We don’t want to lose those proposals.”
Mbadi attested that the BBI Bill has some very solid proposals on how to help youth and turn them into innovators and entrepreneurs, how to make them creators and not seekers of jobs, and how to make them self-reliant.
“We do not want to lose those gains. Even the gender representation question is getting resolved through the BBI. And for the first time, this country is confronting the question of how to ensure productivity through industrialization and enhanced manufacturing. That is a gain in the BBI that we cannot afford to lose,” he stated.
He affirmed that ODM stands in full support of the Bill and calls for its passage in totality.
“…And we stand solidly, side by side, with President Uhuru Kenyatta and his brother Raila Odinga in their quest to fix Kenya through partnership and honest engagement,” he said.
He assured the President and Odinga, that they have enough troops behind them to help push the agenda through.
“Do not be afraid. Do not be distracted. Do not be blackmailed. We are in this battle together,” he concluded.
The parliament has today commenced the two day special sitting to discuss on the Constitution of Kenya Amendment Bill 2020.