By Betty Luke
Supremacy battles over the Building Bridges Initiative Amendment Bill between leaders allied to President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto continue to play out as debate endures in the counties.
While Tangatanga leaders have severally insisted that they will ‘stop the reggae’, recent developments where 10 counties including those earlier perceived to be supporting Dr Ruto have adopted the bill has caused jitters in the faction that is opposed to the constitutional amendments.
The recent to fail the ‘walk the talk’ is former Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri whose Laikipia County was the first in Mt Kenya to pass the bill in what could further dim his political star and future of his new political outfit The Service Party (TSP).
Mr Kiunjuri who is said to have had interest in deputizing Ruto in his quest to become the fifth President of Kenya is now a troubled man.
Apart from the Sh2 million car grant for MCAs meant to lure them into adopting the amendments, the Deputy President Camp, that recently unveiled UDA Party, is worried that leaders from Central region were not joining the outfit in what many say could have been prompted by Mr Kenyatta’s comeback strategy to stamp authority and command in his stolen home turf.
Dr Ruto lieutenants from the region, the Press Point is aware, are also keen not to directly attack Mr Kenyatta as that could thwart their political ambitions-while the President has significantly lost the ground to his deputy, he is still revered as the region’s kingpin.
The focus coming week is on Murang’a and Nyeri where three MPs Alice Wahome (Kandara), Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu) Rigathi Gachagua (Mathira) allied to the DP will rally MCAs to shoot down the document.
According to sources, all the County Assemblies in Mt Kenya plan to pass the document on Tuesday February 23.
So far, Kisumu, Busia, Siaya, Homabay, Laikipia, Kisii, Trans Nzoia, Vihiga, Nairobi, West Pokot and Kajiado counties have also passed the bill that was shot down in Baringo, KANU Party leader Gideon Moi’s backyard.
All the Vihiga 38 MCAs approved the amendments while in Kisii, 68 voted for the bill.
At least 13 more counties should pass the BBI bill to make it 24 that are needed for a referendum to effect the proposed amendments.
