Editor's Review

The ODM Party has appealed to President Uhuru Kenyatta to exclude Interior PS Karanja Kibicho from BBI campaigns. They accused the PS of interfering with the BBI secretariat.

The ODM Party has set an ultimatum for President Uhuru Kenyatta to remove Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho from Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) campaign rallies.

National Assembly Minority Whip Junet Mohammed on March 7, urged that the Head of State exclude the Interior PS from the BBI train or risk it crumbling ahead of the referendum.

Junet tasked President Kenyatta to choose between ODM's input in trying to amend the constitution or oust Kibicho.

Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho at the DCI headquarters on January 25, 2021.

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The legislator who is in ODM Leader Raila Odinga's inner circle, accused Kibicho of interfering with the BBI secretariat and trying to sabotage its efforts.

"If he must continue meddling in the work of the secretariat, if he must continue dictating how we work, if he is that indispensable, we will be left with no choice but to abandon the BBI. Kibicho is causing political constipation and we are not afraid to tell him that," Junet stated.

The Suna MP's sentiments are a public display of frustration since the March 2018 handshake between President Kenyatta and Raila.

Junet alleged that Kibicho's interference in BBI matters could strain the chances of favourable referendum result or make the BBI appear to be a state project.

"You remember Uhuru had to pitch camp in Central Kenya to save BBI in the county assemblies thereafter Kibich bungled it. He can't be playing politics and he is a civil servant. We do not want him anywhere near the secretariat. He needs to take a back seat," the Suna MP stated.

"He wants us to be part of the chief and county commissioners he orders around," he added.

The move to oust Kibicho from the BBI process comes after he was instrumental in collecting BBI signatures through local administrations.

"Our position is clear, if he is to continue being part of the process we will leave it to him. He has created a separate command structure through which he thinks he can bulldoze us around," Junet stated.

The ask by ODM comes at a time when President Kenyatta and Raila Odinga are holding nationwide rallies to sensitize members of the public on the BBI.

File image of ODM Leader Raila Odinga and Suna East MP Junet Mohammed. |Photo| Courtesy|