The President, Uhuru Kenyatta and his bosom buddy, ODM party leader, Raila Odinga on Wednesday received the final report of the BBI.
After months of speculation, the document was available, though in limited supply. In defence of the document, both Uhuru and Raila touted it as being for Kenyans and not at all about the preservation of their political lives.
“The BBI does not belong to me and Raila. It belongs to you. This document is not about this individual’s presidency and that individual’s prime ministership. It is about all of us. What we are looking for is a document about posterity.” The President said as he received the document.
However, the BBI will officially be launched in the coming days.
Mounting opposition to the document
However, a section of Kenyans who have read the BBI has further entrenched their opposition to it. What had previously been light jabs against the document have now become full-on opposition to it.
NARC-Kenya party leader, Martha Karua, stated that the BBI, if passed, would mark a return to imperial Presidency.
“I have this morning confirmed that the office of the Deputy President remains unchanged in the BBI Constitutional amendment proposals, which herald the return of the imperial presidency and undermine Independence of Judiciary,” Karua said.
A sneaky way to take away Judiciary independence
Waikwa Wanyoike, a constitutional lawyer, also pointed this out. He stated that the position of the Judiciary Ombudsman was a sneaky way to take away the judiciary’s independence.
“BBI report intended creation of the position of Judiciary Ombudsman, nominated and appointed by the President, is the sneakiest way to take away all the independence of the judiciary. The effect is to give President singular control on the discipline and removal of judges.” He said.
However, the talk around the report is ongoing, with opinions for the document appearing to be more about political leanings.
Furthermore, below are more opposing views to BBI.
The BBI report is my favourite bedtime fairy tale book. The imaginations of Kenyan leaders can really surprise you. Most suggestions are simply fairy tales. Let us wake up and face reality. We are economic slaves of China. We are permanent slaves of poverty. #RejectBBI
— Mwalimu Dida Kinuthia Mwangi (@mwalimu_dida) October 21, 2020
The #BBIReport is a step back from all the progress we have made as a country. I don't think this document will be any better than the 2010 constitution. It has so much malice in it. From 'revisiting' the judiciary to creating more positions to loot. To me it's a No! 🙄#RejectBBI
— BRAVIN YURI (@BravinYuri) October 21, 2020
"#BBIReport is a true application of the Pareto principle the 80:20 rule. The poor scored 20% & the rich 80%. If the proposals are implemented, 80% of Kenyans will suffer for the benefit of 20% of Kenyans. A gold proposal for wanjiku would be the inverse. #RejectBBI"
~ @Kimatoi
— Muhammad Abubakar Ali 🌍 (@Abikar_) October 22, 2020
