Kenya: Dr. John M. Khaminwa – Comment on BBI (14.11.2020)

Kenya: Office of the Inspector General – National Police Service – Enforcement of COVID-19 Protocols and Regulations (05.11.2020)

Kenya: Joint NGO Press Statement – Establishment of Covid-19 Special Enforcement Unit (SEU) is Misplaced and Must Be Rethought (05.11.2020)

Kenya Medical Association (KMA): KMA Statement on the Resurgence of COVID-19 Infections and Increased Fatality Rate (03.11.2020)

Kenya: Press Statement by the BBI Campaign Steering Team – Consensus on the 70 Extra Seats at the National Assembly (02.11.2020)

Opinion: The BBI is a forced referendum – no one asked for…

The Building Bridges Initiative for National Unity (or the BBI) seems more and more like a political game for a very chosen few and not for the mwananchi. The President Uhuru Kenyatta and Orange Democratic Movement Party President Raila Odinga is both busy selling this.

They are working on overtime, as they have delivered a second report and envisioning a referendum on it. As the BBI Report have constitutional changes. This is to make the changes Kenyatta wanted all along, but using Odinga to sell it for him.

We could all play along. I’m not with Deputy President William Ruto and hiking on one of his wheelbarrows. However, the BBI isn’t what it promise to be. It is a political game to fit a narrative and to ensure the political elite. The reason why Ruto is out that? Well, he is an outsider, but an insider working closely to the dynasties over the years. He has forced himself to side and has to play along. Something that isn’t easy when your selling wheelbarrows and the others constitutional reforms…

Odinga is busy scheming with Kenyatta. Kenyatta has it all in his bag. Everyone else is carrying his water. The media is playing the songs too. There is little attacks or sensible voices to speak about. The BBI seems settled and already mended to have the votes. That is why the IEBC addressed ODM within seconds after the allegations of costs with a possible referendum.

That shows the ODM and Jubilee have planned this and launched in this manner. To soften the idea over the years of the handshake. Ensure they have enough to pull it off ahead of 2022 and secure their will political changes.

The main changes is for the political elite, the cartels and the ones who wants a more powerful President with less safeguards around the office. The BBI is a gift to a big-man and a autocratic leader in the future. Some of the suggestions and changes would amplify the President and weaken the other branches of the government. This being the Judiciary or others, who would be easily controlled by the President. The same being cabinet and other appointments, which would ensure total loyalty from the top.

That is why the switcher-oo of Prime Minister and Deputy President is just a mere minor change title. Also, that the President can appoint the person and not have to be on a ticket at an election. Clearly, this is all to secure the President can be a stronger Executive with.

The end game of this is a Imperial President, the sort of overlord in office, which can only bring back the Moi era. That is why there was changes of constitution and securing the mwananchi rights. Instead, Kenyatta and Odinga wants to change that. So, they can eat more before their time is over.

They are trying to trick it. Pull a leg and push for a referendum, which is only to give more power to one man. This is not to make the Republic better or secure government services to the grand public.

Alas, if you want to be fooled… then you buy into this BBI, but if you haven’t caught the gist yet. It is a wet-dream of a autocrat. To have someone who doesn’t value democracy or values the public. That doesn’t want to be tested or kept in checks and balances with the government branches. That is why they are selling this …

The BBI is what some always wanted, but I never knew that some of these folks are aspiring to be the next Moi. Serving it through a referendum no one asked for. Peace.

Kenya: Joint Statement by the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Inspector-General of the National Police Service regarding the Conviction and Sentence of Mohamed Ahmed Abdi and Hussain Hassan Mustafah in the Westgate Mall Attack (01.11.2020)

Kenya: Police Reforms Working Group – Kenya (PRWG-K) – Imperatives for Policing Transformation: An Intial Response to Building Bridges Initative Implementation Road Map (30.10.2020)

Opinion: The BBI is a way to upgrade the political elite

Today was the official launch after the newest Building Bridges Initiative for National Unity Report was delivered. It is just mere days since it came to the public. Since the it has been praised and questioned. The motives are clear as day. That this Report will make the President more powerful and ensure the reign of the one will give way to a stronger Commander-In-Chief and Head of State. In a manner, which haven’t been seen in a while

The BBI Report also ushers in other positions, which is also appointed by the President. Also, others who are de facto weakening the independence of the Judiciary. Which is all things the current President wants.

They are trying to sell this a referendum the public wants or needs. The final stage of rejuvenating the Constitution to perfection. Ensure the bottlenecks and the failing issues are closed. They are sealing of the quarters, the National Assembly and giving doughnuts to counties. That is just the mere reality. In a way to make it a national need, instead of the elites with a few wordings. While the biggest changes are in-connection with the Presidency and the Higher Ranking positions. Which all will benefit the political elite. They will make things more stable, but give the President more power.

The BBI has been a way to make Raila Odinga a Kingmaker and made him government spokesperson. Odinga have become a man who works for the government, while his party been officially the Leaders of Opposition, which is a juxtaposition, if there ever was one. It has sidelines Deputy President William Ruto, but he will now jump on the train to sing this reggae too.

President Uhuru Kenyatta bough a piece of mind with the Handshake. He brought the Opposition to a standstill and soften the blow of the fraudulent elections of 2017. It has given him a free space and only offered tokens to the opposition. This is why he hasn’t faced anything of substance or such. That is why this BBI is favouring his needs and what he wants.

Kenyatta is getting all the things he wished he had. Because, he never accepted the powers given to the Judiciary and the Courts. Neither, has he approved of the things that has given his less power as the Executive. Uhuru wanted so much more and not just having partial power. That is why his all for these changes. It would be a blessing for him and therefore, it is the sort of legal changes, which he wants to anoint in his term.

The BBI is an exercise for a very limited few. They might say it is for the public and the betterment of the public. They have a few anecdotes and words, which reflects the needs of Kenya. However, they are minor, but the important are the ones that affects the central leadership. These are the ones winning in this battle and the BBI is for them.

This here isn’t for the poor of Kisumu, Lodwar, Marsabit, Wajir, Kilifi or in Lamu. No, this is for the political elites of Nairobi. This is troubles made for the political elites and their dynasties. The BBI is the upper echelon and the cartels. They claim maybe to serving the public doing this, but the ones gaining from this is the big-men. The loser is the general public who are pawns in their game.

Just like the rigged elections took the public for granted. The same does the BBI. It is just all flair, show and a circus sprinkled with a power move for the almighty. There are no generosity or charity here. Only a poignant fact that the ones in power intends to stay and use their time to consolidate it.

The BBI is a trick, which is there to fool. They come with the idea, ideals and ethical conundrums, but the key aspects is to deliver more to the most high. Peace.

Kenya: Kongamano La Mageuzi (KLM) – Kenyans, Don’t Be Fooled: Reject the BBI Nyayosi (25.10.2020)