Editor's Review

  • MCAs blocked from holding BBI meeting at Bomas of Kenya
  • They had vowed to stop the referendum

The State blocked a meeting that was scheduled to be held by Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) at Bomas of Kenya.

Reports indicate that the government blocked the Thursday meeting citing the surge of Covid-19 cases.

The 2,237 MCAs and 47 assembly speakers had planned the meeting to take a common stand on the BBI report.

MCAs wanted to use their strategic advantage to demand the inclusion of their issues in the final report before the collection of the required one million signatures.

For the BBI Referendum Bill to advance to the next stage, it has to be passed by at least 24 county assemblies.

If less than 24 endorse it, the Bill ends there—giving MCAs the best chance to push for their issues now in exchange for their support.

The County Assemblies Forum (CAF) insisted that their demands must be incorporated in the BBI report or else there will be no referendum.

Secretary-general Kipkurui Chepkwony said another window should be opened to make amendments to the report.

“Do not tell us to take it or leave it because we can also say the same. Let us have a conversation and see if the document can be improved further,” he said.