President Uhuru Kenyatta seemingly scored his first goal after 10 County Assemblies assured him that they would pass the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) bill soonest as legally required.
The 550 Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) made the assurance during a crucial meeting on the BBI with President Kenyatta at the Sagana State Lodge in Nyeri County on Friday.
The counties that promised the Head of State their backing on the BBI legislation are Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Kirinyaga, Embu, Nyeri, Nyandarua, Murang'a, Kiambu, Nakuru and Laikipia.
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The MCAs through their Speakers said their decision to back the BBI was because it assures them of more funds to the grassroots and will help them to handle arising issues in their wards.
While thanking them for their support for the BBI, he said the initiative once adopted would reinforce devolution and ensure Kenya realises socio-economic transformation faster.
The President hit out at leaders in the region and elsewhere opposing the BBI, saying the envisioned reforms would ensure equitable sharing of the national cake while fostering unity.
He told the MCAs BBI would correct the current formula for sharing national resources and bashed leaders opposed to equal allocation of national resources terming them deceitful.
“It is our responsibility as leaders to ensure justice, not to threaten or insult others. We need to ensure justice and development for those who elected us,” said Kenyatta.
President Kenyatta said he wanted to leave behind a united country where there is no bloodshed due to politics and leadership as witnessed during the 2007 post-election violence.
The Friday declaration comes two days after 41 MPs from Mt Kenya region wrote him a terse open letter, accusing him of failing to unite the country, sluggish development vowing that they will not sell BBI and Raila Odinga as a 2022 presidential candidate in the region.