Raila says BBI Bill must be subjected to a referendum

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has said the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) Amendment Bill must be subjected to a referendum.

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In a statement, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader said the Bill entails reorganization of the Executive and Kenyans need to have a say.

“In the spirit of the Handshake and the wider goals of the BBI Amendment Bill, we agreed on the need for Parliament to fast track the process and release the document to the public to enable the people of Kenya to have a final say on the envisaged changes to the constitution via a referendum,” he said.

Raila’s statement came after he held a meeting with the leadership of ODM on Wednesday.

Those at the meeting were James Orengo (Senate Minority Whip); John Mbadi (ODM chairman); Junet Mohammed (National Assembly Minority Whip); Edwin Sifuna (Secretary General); Timothy Bosire (Treasurer) and Gladys Wanga (member of the top leadership of ODM).

Raila said the meeting reaffirmed ODM’s commitment to the spirit of his handshake with President Uhuru Kenyatta which according to him created an environment of peace and stability.

“We tasked the party and our supporters to continue showing this commitment to the handshake and its wider national goals in word and deed, in the interest of the nation,” he said.

The ODM leader appealed to Kenyans to continue adhering to the Ministry of Health protocols meant to contain the spread of the coronavirus in the country.

He said ODM is committed to engage the government with a view to coming up with ways and means to cushion the people from the ravages of the economy especially during these times of lockdown.