President Uhuru Kenyatta has said the BBI report provides long-term solutions to pressing challenges holding back the country from progress such as disunity, lack of inclusivity and youth unemployment.

In a candid off the cuff speech during the launch of the report at the Bomas of Kenya, the President told Kenyans to focus on fixing these challenges through the BBI process and avoid being distracted by political sideshows.

The Head of State pointed out that Kenya was a highly tribal nation whose politics of negative ethnicity had created a predictable cycle of post election violence since 1992.

“The fact of the matter is we are a tribal society and we want to run from that. Let us not cheat one another. I will also admit that I have been part and parcel of the negative politics.

“That is why we must address the issue of inclusivity so that every single community will feel they are part and parcel of this country,” the President said.

The Head of State explained the genesis of BBI and how his coming together with opposition leader Raila Odinga was inspired by a need to ensure future generations enjoyed a stable, united and prosperous Kenya.

He said his ‘handshake’ with Mr Odinga was a continuation of his coming together with Deputy President William Ruto in the build up to the 2013 elections and that he kept his deputy informed during the entire period of his discussions with the former Premier.

The President refuted assertions that Mr Odinga had joined his administration and thanked the former Prime Minister for showing magnanimity when they sat down to chart the best route to a peaceful, united and prosperous Kenya.

“As you know we were competing in 2017 and as such things got difficult. But when we got through to it and we spoke and spoke again. We agreed that we were not here to share positions. We agreed we are coming together with one common agenda of ensuring that what people of Kenya have witnessed in 1992,1997,2005, 2007 and 2017, Kenyans shall never ever witness again.

“We did not talk about sharing Government and as we stand today he is not in government. He never made any demands at all. He said let us fix what we will be able to enable us to compete without the blood of Kenyans being shed,” the President said.

At the event addressed by top political, religious and special interest groups leaders, the President cautioned politicians against populist tokenism saying it risks radicalising unemployed youth against fellow citizens.

“We have a youth that if not well managed can be a time bomb and can blow up this country. How we manage it, is very important. We cannot manage it through inciting them but by including them in decision-making.

“We must stop this culture of use and dispose and instead develop a program of how we can systematically and in a thoughtful manner, how we can help our youth to be part and parcel of our future,” he said.

On his part, Deputy President Dr William Ruto isolated several sections of the BBI report that he said needed further strengthening and encouraged all Kenyans to participate in the constitutional reform process.

“This is a process where we all can bring our views together. We all have a civic duty as Kenyans to engage and don’t have the luxury to run away. We should try ad have an uncontested referendum,” Dr Ruto said.

Mr Odinga recounted key moments in the BBI process saying proposals contained in the report were representative of the submissions made by Kenyans in a comprehensive national public participation exercise.

The opposition leader said his desire and that of President Kenyatta was to leave a legacy of a Kenyan society where all citizens have an equal opportunity to improve their wellbeing.

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday confessed that his deputy William Ruto was aware of the handshake with Raila Odinga. – By Enock Mukoma.

At the launch of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report at Bomas, Uhuru said Ruto worked on the finer details of the handshake, contradicting earlier statements that he was not involved.

“.It is the truth… he helped me identify some of the elders I mentioned here. The purpose as I had told him was never to talk about what shall happen tomorrow in terms of elective posts.”

Uhuru further squashed claims that Raila was in the government, affirming that the handshake was grounded on a common goal of a unified peaceful country.

“As many of you know. we were competitors in 2017. Things got to a difficult level. but when we sat down to speak, we agreed that we are not here to share positions. ” he said.

“…and we agreed that we were coming together with one agenda to ensure peace. We did not talk about sharing government

The president’s sentiments echoed Railas position that handshake has never been about 2022 as DP’s allies have always alluded to it

“Let us talk to each other and not at each other. The BBI is not about Uhuru becoming Prime Minister and Raila the President, it is about what is the best for the country,” Raila said.

Raila, while quoting the Bible from the book of Isaiah, said the referendum process should be a unifying factor where everyone is brought on board.

 He also made references to the Quran, Raila said those who listen to all statements and follow the best of it are the ones whom Allah has chosen.

Deputy President William Ruto put a strong case for his position on the Building Bridges Initiative report as it was launched at the Bomas of Kenya, Nairobi. – By Enock Mukoma.

Ruto was jeered as he expressed his reservations on the document, castigating the BBI team for trampling on the independence of key institutions in the BBI report.

While laying his ‘humble submissions’ in front of the overly pro-BBI audience, Ruto contested the establishment of the office of Ombudsman, which will be appointed by the Executive.

“On the matter of the judiciary allow me to say that there is a huge space to have an improvement on the proposal that has been made… Having an ombudsman appointed by the Executive into the Judiciary is a derogation from the independence of the institution.”

“We need to operationalize the Judiciary fund that is already in the Constitution so that the Judiciary can establish more courts, hire more judges and more staff so that more Kenyans can have access to justice,” Ruto said.

He went on to further oppose the idea of political players nominating commissioners to IEBC wondering how participating football teams could choose impartial referees.

“I have my reservations,” he said.

The DP then weighed in on Raila’s turf, using football narrative to illustrate the winner takes it all, which almost brought things to a standstill at the Bomas.

“How fair will a league be, where a referee is appointed by teams, and not all the teams but some teams?”

“…unless you tell me that it is okay for some teams to appoint the referee…and if that is what you are saying, I have my reservations.”

Ruto also expressed his fears over changes in the National Police Service and the National Police Commission.

 “To recommend that we will have a police council, chaired by a CS is actually a derogation from the independence of the police.”

And despite the heckling, Ruto sojourned on, challenging the role of the Prime Minister and two deputies.

“The questions is: Have we sorted out the winner-takes-it-all question,” he asked adding that “We must have a candid discussion on millions of youth locked by poverty.” 

On BBI’s recommendation of increasing budgetary allocations to the counties to 35 per cent of the national budget, Ruto said he had no problems with it as long as the Senate was made the upper house with more powers to oversee the usage of the funds.

His speech ended with those in attendance jeering loud ‘’Respect the president”