Lamu East MP, Woman Rep declare opposing views on BBI report

Two National Assembly Members from Lamu County have differed publicly over the anticipated Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report.

Lamu East MP Athman Sharif and Lamu Woman Representative Ruweida Obbo, both elected on Jubilee Party tickets disagreed over the BBI report with Mr Sharif vowing to reject it while Mrs Obbo promising her full support of the same.

Speaking in Lamu, Mr Sharif said he is anxiously waiting to review the BBI document but hinted at rejecting the report should it fail to address issues affecting his constituents.

The lawmaker stated that he was waiting for the report’s release before making an informed decision to reject it, particularly if it adds more burden to wananchi.

Mr Sharif vowed to lead an onslaught against the report in Lamu county and the rest of the country should it propose to expand the Executive by creating more offices.

“I want to urge my fellow leaders here in Lamu and country who have been moving round asking citizens to support the BBI to be patient and first wait for the report to be released. As for me, I want to have the copy of the BBI and review it , but I will definitely reject it should it propose creation of more positions for people and add a burden to the taxpayers. I am also opposed to it if it doesn’t address concerns affecting my constituents here in Lamu,” said Mr Sharif.

PRO-BBI

Mrs Obbo on her part however criticized fellow leaders opposed to BBI, terming them self-centred politicians without the citizens’ interests at heart.

The Woman Rep urged Lamu residents to fully support the BBI since it already has the blessings of President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Even before he officially receives the report, President Kenyatta has already indicated that he will go around the country drumming support for its recommendations, terming it as the answer to the myriad of problems that have bedevilled the country for years.

Mrs Obbo stressed the need for Lamu residents to be at the forefront in supporting the initiative since it is the only document that is expected to address perennial injustice of unfair representation and marginalization that the Lamu people have been subjected to for the over 50 years of independence.

She said she was confident in President Uhuru Kenyatta and that whatever he decides on BBI is meant for the betterment of Lamu and the country and therefore should be embraced by all Kenyans.

PRESIDENT'S BACKING

“I will continue to drum up support for the BBI provided President Kenyatta supports it. Let’s avoid being taken in circles by egocentric leaders who have been claiming BBI is bad. I am confident in President Kenyatta. I have been supporting him. He is a leader with good intentions for this country. I am fully supporting BBI and you should also do the same. We’re very few here in Lamu and we should remain united by supporting BBI which will solve the decade long marginalization and underrepresentation that we have been subjected to since independence,” said Mrs Obbo.

The BBI Taskforce is yet to hand over the report to President Uhuru Kenyatta and his handshake partner Raila Odinga.

A number of memoranda submitted to the BBI team during its public engagements called for the inclusion of a Prime Minister and two deputies in the Executive in addition to the President and Deputy President.