Nairobi County passes BBI bill unopposed

Story by Kering’Chebet

Feb, 19th 2021 – Nairobi Members of County Assembly in Thursday unanimously passed the Constitution of Kenya Amendment Bill, 2020. All of the 114 ward representatives present voted in favour of the Bill during the plenary session chaired by Nairobi county speaker Benson Mutura.

A Total of 109 MCAs attending the chambers with five members who voted online made the county the 11th to pass the bill with Baringo county being the only county that has rejected the bill.

“Hon members the members total number is 114 and they all voted  Yes  no vote for No ,” Mutura said.

Speaker Mutura now says, he will deliver a copy of  the draft passed bill to the senate and the National Assembly.

Moving the motion on the floor of the house on Thursday to pass the report on the Bill, Justice and Legal Affairs committee chairperson Joseph Komu said,

“In light of the submissions from the public participation exercises contained herein and pursuant to the provisions of Article 257(6) of the Constitution, the sectorial Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs hereby recommends to the Nairobi City County Assembly to approve the BBI Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2020.”

The motion was seconded by Imara Daima MCA Kennedy Obuya before the voting proceeded. Those In attendance in the House were Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja, Chief Administrative Secretary Rachel Shebesh, Makadara MP George Aladwa, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Roysambu lawmaker Waihenya Ndirangu and nominated MP Maina Kamanda.

Majority leader  Abdi  Guyo says that the BBI Bill will stabilize politics in Nairobi and minimize perennial fights witnessed in every general election.

“This document is great..those opposing it were the same people who said 2010 constitution was not good and it needs amendment. Why say no now? We do not want tribal fights again because of politics let’s support BBI. Nairobi suffers most when we have these political fights ,” Guyo said.

On the other hand, Minority Leader Michael Ogada stated that the contents of BBI are wonderful and that Nairobi city will gain a lot in terms of development.

“If you oppose it you are evil. Youths have been taken care of, we have a tax holiday. As members we shall not allow youths to be given wheelbarrows. Let Kenyans support this document,”Ogada said.

Meanwhile Minority Whip rallied Nairobians to support the BBI document saying that Nairobi will be in a great position to steer its development.

“We will have like Ksh. 60 billion for ward reps. We will also have an opportunity to be CEC that’s a plus,” Imwatok said.

So far Eleven county assemblies: Vihiga, Laikipia, Kisii, Siaya, Kisumu, Kajiado, West Pokot, Busia, Trans Nzoia, and Homa Bay have passed the BBI Bill.

The bill now requires 13 more counties’ approval for it to go to National parliaments before a referendum by Kenyans.

According to the new constitution 2010, the bill requires a nod of approval from 24 out of 47 counties to enter its second last step in two houses before a referendum.