US Throws its Weight Behind BBI Report

The United States has thrown its weight behind the recently unveiled Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report.

Ambassador Kyle McCarter said although he does not agree with all the details contained in the 156-page report, the US will back its implementation before the 2022 elections. McCarter, who spoke in Kapsabet, Nandi County on Monday said the report will unite the country if the recommendations are implemented.

“The Unites States is a great friend of Kenya and, although I do not agree with all details in the BBI, the USA fully supports it for Kenya to remain a united country," said McCarter.

The BBI taskforce was formed in the aftermath of the March 9th, 2018 handshake between President Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga. The team had been tasked to collect the views of Kenyans and prepare a report on nine key issues affecting the country among them, ethnicism, lack of national ethos, inclusivity, devolution, divisive elections, security, corruption, shared prosperity and responsibilities and rights.

The 14-member taskforce handed over the report to President Kenyatta on November 26th before it was officially launched as Bomas of Kenya the following day. Last week, Kenyatta extended the taskforce’s term to ensure recommendations contained in their report are turned into legal policy and administrative measures required for implementation.

The report makes among others recommendations, allocation to counties be increased to at least 35 percent of the national budget, a Primer Minister to be appointed by the president from the majority party in parliament, the presidential term limit to remain to two terms as it was in the 2010 constitution, and the opposition leader be an ex-officio member of parliament (shall sit in parliament).

It also proposes that the official opposition party shall have a shadow cabinet, half the cabinet shall be appointed from members of parliament while the other half shall comprise of technocrats, and provision of a tax holiday of at least 7 years to small and medium enterprises as support to youth entrepreneurship and job creation.