Raila Dismisses Claims That BBI will Bring Back Imperial Presidency

ODM leader Raila Odinga has dismissed claims that the proposals contained in the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report will bring back imperial presidency. 

Speaking in Kisumu on Sunday, Odinga termed the claims as propaganda, adding that he would never be a party to any amendment which recreates imperial presidency.

“There is propaganda being spread on the BBI. I have seen the allegations that this draft amendment is bringing back Imperial Presidency,” Odinga said.

He added: “I have been part and parcel of the struggle for reforms and change and I will never be party to any amendment which recreates Imperial Presidency.”

Odinga further discredited assertions that the BBI recommendations will lead to a bloated government and explained that the Prime Minister and his deputies will earn one salary as MPs.

“No one is bloating the government by introducing the Prime Minister and the two deputies; some of you were around when we had the Grand Coalition government. Both the Prime Minister and his Deputies were MPs; I was the Lang’ata MP and my salary was that of a legislator,” he added.

He also defended the proposal to create the office of Ombudsman, saying it will not interfere with the independence of the judiciary as alleged by BBI critics.

“Judiciary has been compromised, sometimes, that there have been judges on the take, making rulings that are not in accordance with the law,” Raila said.

“That’s the reason why this office is being created…that we now have an institution where ‘wananchi’ can go to make their complaints.”