He Who Laughs Last…Kenya Kwanza Leaders Hail BBI Ruling

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 31- Leaders drawn from Deputy President William Ruto’s led Kenya Kwanza alliance have welcomed the Building Bridges Initiative constitutional amendment ruling by the Supreme Court.

Majority of the Supreme Court Judges found that the initiative was unconstitutional, after establishing that it is President Uhuru Kenyatta who initiated it.

They are ruled that the process should be citizen driven and centered, even though Justice Njoki Ndungu differed.

Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi said the ruling was an indication that Kenya has a strong and independent Judiciary.

The Northern frontier has unique socio-economic challenges that require tailor-made solutions.

Being an arid region and to improve the fortunes of the people, availing water through the construction of dams and water pans will be a priority measure to be taken by Kenya Kwanza. pic.twitter.com/cJ3AiAyoLn

— Musalia W Mudavadi (@MusaliaMudavadi) March 31, 2022

Muranga Senator Irungu Kang’ata also reacted to the ruling.

Those asking about BBi verdict, this is it. He who laughs last laughs the best pic.twitter.com/wEhapsvcEP

— Irungu Kang'ata (@HonKangata) March 31, 2022

Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru termed the judgement as “sober”, saying “our country is stronger when our judiciary is strong and stands above transcient politics.”

“The closure of the BBI calls for introspection on the process of constitutional amendments of this nature and how we can in future resuscitate the progressive parts of the proposed BBI including the 35% minimum allocation to counties and the actualisation of the two thirds gender rule,” she said in a post on her social media platforms.

Senator Kipchumba Murkomen just posted, “null and void” to celebrate the ruling.

NULL & VOID. I repeat NULL& VOID!

— KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN, E.G.H (@kipmurkomen) March 31, 2022

Former Law Society of Kenya president Nelson Havi also celebrated the ruling.

Well, it took a determined cat to stop the noisy, noxious, nuisance that was the BBI Bill reggae. It matters not that the Supreme Court has held that the Basic Structure Doctrine is inapplicable in Kenya. In the end, all that matters is the pronouncement, “It is null and void.” pic.twitter.com/JQSjYnVcKq

— Nelson Havi (@NelsonHavi) March 31, 2022

The 7-judge bench narrowed its BBI appeal ruling on 7 areas that included basic structure doctrine, whether the President can initiate a popular initiative, creation of 70 new constituencies, whether the President can be sued, public participation, whether the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) was properly constituted and the referendum questions.

The bench comprised Chief Justice Martha Koome, Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu, Mohamed Ibrahim, Smokin Wanjala, Njoki Ndung’u, Isaac Lenaola, and William Ouko.

The majority of the Supreme Court Judges found that President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga led initiative was unconstitutionally initiated.