Members of County Assembly (MCAs) drawn from Western Province have added new demands before passing the Building Bridges initiative.
On top of the Sh 2 million car grant, the MCAs want the addition of Sh500, 000 to pass the BillBill.
The MCAs from Kakamega, Bungoma, Vihiga, and Busia counties warned that if their demands are not met, they will shoot down BBI when it gets to the region.
Led by Vihiga MCA, Tom Adingo said that the ward representatives are flat broke and must be compensated to popularize the BillBill.
“We don’t have money to conduct public participation, and you cannot just go to the people empty-handed,” said Adingo.
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The MCAs maintained that the Sh300,000 promised by President Kenyatta for facilitation was not enough and asked the Governors to top up the amount to Ksh500,000, at least.
The 270 MCAs also highlighted the amendment of the Election Act Section 22 and asked that the Bill be suspended altogether.
The MCAs spoke at an event attended by Western leaders led by; Amani National Congress (ANC) party Musalia Mudavadi, Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa, governors Wilbur Ottichilo (Vihiga), Sospeter Ojaamong (Busia), Wycliffe Wangamati (Bungoma), and Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetang’ula.
Their demands come barely a week after Baringo MCAs rejected the BBI bill in a chaotic session.
Following the rejection, there have been calls for the MCAs to be denied the benefits promised by President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Rail Odinga halted.
Already, Kisumu, Siaya, and Homa Bay have already passed the BBI bill paving the way for the referendum.
To go for an opinion poll, the BBI bill needs to be passed by at least 24 county assemblies. The new demands by the Western MCAs pose a threat to the bill expected to head to the region.
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