Raila Odinga to revisit BBI

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga has assured Kenyans that the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) was down but not dead, urging his supporters to focus on the forthcoming general elections.

“We will not stop deliberations on the way forward that will decide on a future course of action that protects the interests of all those who voted to see the amendments come to light. For now, we have an election to Win!” he tweeted a few hours after the supreme court gave its ruling on the BBI Bill.

Odinga remarks following the ruling yesterday, while he assured Kenyans that the ruling illustrated that the people’s will is supreme.

State organs will not usurp the people’s sovereignty.

“I wish to applaud the verdict, particularly in the background of questions surrounding amendments to the constitution,” Raila said.

Odinga pointed out that there is room for the BBI to get a new life if the bill follows all the processes, and another attempt at constitutional amendments shall be a citizen-centred process.

“I note that the BBI process has been upheld. What has been faulted is the role that the State is said to have played at the commencement of the popular initiative,” he said.

The highest court in the land ruled that the BBI initiative was unconstitutional because the law does not allow a sitting President to initiate amendments to the constitution.

“The President cannot initiate a popular amendment under Article 255. I, however, disagree narrowly with the Chief Justice that on the BBI secretariat part, there is no place I have found the role of the President,” said Judge Isaac Lenaola.

For Odinga, Winning the election will be his priority, and he hopes that after his victory, he shall give life to the BBI Bill.