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East Africa

Kenya’s

Constitutional

moment as

BBI report is

launched

President Uhuru Kenyatta and Opposition Chief, Raila Odinga[FILE PHOTO]

enya is in the middle of a together was a showdown, as leaders combined period of 40years, under
Kconstitutional debate following took on each other with split opinions one party.
the release of a report by a task and views representing, those against The raging on debate whether or
force appointed by President Uhuru and the proponents who include the not to amend the 2010 Constitution
Kenyatta and the opposition leader, president, with his Deputy President of Kenya is born out of suspicions
Ralia Odinga, to look into proposals on the opposing side. over the 2022 elections in which
to amend the constitution of Kenya. Dr William Ruto, the Deputy both William Ruto and Raila Odinga
The task force on constitutional President who has emerged as the are expected contestants. Both the
amendments, was put in place opposition in his own government, proponents and protagonists see
following an understanding , as he angles himself to inherit his a planned plebiscite in the review
otherwise known as the ”handshake” boss, viewed the “handshake” as a process as a platform to launch a
by the two leaders after the 2017 political deal aimed at scuttling his stub at the presidency in the coming
disputed presidential elections that ambitions in favour of the opposition elections.
handed Kenyatta, a second and final leader, Raila Odinga. Key amendment to the Constitution
term in office. President Kenyatta is of Kenya 2010, under the BBI
Initiative, include changing the
expected to leave office in 2022. Kenya’s current constitution was
promulgated in 2010, following many system of government from a pure
Otherwise known as the Building years of struggle to replace the old presidential system introduced in
Bridges Initiative (BBI, the task force constitution that had consolidated 2010, to a mixed system with a Prime
referenced to by the acronym, which power in the hands of the president, Minister as head government business
went around the country collecting despite the country opening up to in Parliament, and supervisor of
public views ,and its report was multi-partyism in 1991, after many government operations appointed by
the president, who remains the Head
launched 27, Oct, in Nairobi years of dictatorship under both the of State and government. Second,
torching off a a national debate the founding father of the nation, Jomo is the two thirds gender rule in
has dived the country. Kenyatta and the second president, parliament, an issue threatening the
The event which brought nearly all Daniel Arap Moi, who together dissolution of the house under the
leaders from the political divide ruled the East African country for a current constitution.

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