DP Ruto Allies Locked Out as Uhuru, Raila Teams Hold BBI Meetings

Members of Parliament allied to the Deputy President William Ruto will not be part of a BBI retreat scheduled for this weekend in Naivasha.

National Assembly Majority Leader Amos Kimunya on  Thursday told the media all legislators had been invited but the DP's camp insists they had not been asked to be part of the meeting.

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria who earlier this week disclosed details of the meeting claimed that the sitting had been planned for MPs allied to President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga.

According to Moses Kuria the leaders were hell-bent on creating a contested constitutional process. He appealed to President Uhuru Kenyatta to tame the move, saying if contested, the country risks experiencing clashes.

"I know the President does not want a contested process. He means what he says but there is a section of politicians who want this to be a contest.

"I am smelling a repeat of the 2007-08 clashes. I appeal to the president to stop some of these meetings that are after coming up with a Yes and NO scenario. Kenya is not ready for this contestation," stated Kuria in a video shares across his social media pages.

On Thursday Kimunya denied claims of leaving out leaders perceived to be against the proposals in the BBI report. He said the meetings will he conducted in line with the Covid-19 containment measures and as such, only a few MPs can meet a time.

"Nobody has been given an invitation; we are still working on the logistics. All Members of the National Assembly, Senators and Ward Reps have been invited. But because we cannot put all these leaders in one venue due to Covid-19, we will travel in batches. Some will travel this weekend and others next weekend," stated Munya.

He did not disclose the criteria that will be used to settle who attends the meetings on either of the weekends.

Kimunya also ruled out having room for amendments to the report saying the BBI steering committee finalised the work.

According to Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, most of those in the DP's camp was not aware of the said Naivasha retreat.

This comes at a time a section of Senators who gave President Uhuru and Raila Odinga a rough ride during the revenue sharing debate has vowed to demand further changes on the report.

The Senators; 'Team Kenya', held a meeting with ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi on Thursday at a Nairobi hotel.