Jubilee Summons Uasin Gishu MCAs Ahead of Crucial BBI Vote
This is ahead of a crucial debate and a vote on the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) bill set for next week.
Marvin Chege 
Ruling Jubilee party, through Secretary-General Raphael Tuju, has summoned 17 nominated MCAs from the Uasin Gishu County Assembly for a meeting at the party headquarters in Nairobi.
This is ahead of a crucial debate and a vote on the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) bill set for next week.
The nominated MCAs are already in Nairobi for the meeting that will take place on Friday, February 19, with the BBI expected to be discussed.
Uasin Gishu is the home county of Deputy President William Ruto, with an assembly of 48 MCAs most of who are allied to the DP.
“This is to invite you to a Jubilee Party Uasin Gishu nominated members meeting at the party headquarters Nairobi on Friday 19th February 2021 at 12pm. Your attendance is essential,” directed Tuju in a letter addressed to each of the MCAs.
The BBI Bill was tabled at the assembly a week ago and it has been going through public participation before the MCAs debate it and vote next week.
Meanwhile, DP Ruto has termed the BBI Bill as one of the least priorities to Kenyans but he has not called for the MCAs to either reject or vote for it. The ensuing events have thus left the MCAs in a sticky situation but most of them revealed they would make an independent decision after public participation.
“Tuju should not intimidate the nominated MCAs because they are leaders with the capacity to decide on the bill independently,” said the assembly whip Gilbert Tenai.
Tenai added that if the BBI was indeed a good document for the country then there was no need for the party to force it on MCAs or Kenyans.
So far West Pokot became the first assembly in Rift Valley to support the Bill just a week after Baringo MCAs were the first to reject it. Trans Nzoia MCAs have also passed the bill while Nandi, Elgeyo Marakwet, and Turkana county assemblies are expected to decide next week.
A section of the MCAs in Baringo has moved to court to reject the decision stating that there was no voting at the assembly.
A total of 11 counties have so far passed the BBI bill, with 13 more passes needed for the next stage.
