President Uhuru Kenyatta has gazetted the Building Bridges Initiative Taskforce, with a fresh mandate to 30th of June 2020.
The gazetting of the BBI team comes amid heated political debates of there being a hidden agenda in the extension of the mandate of the team which has completed its term and handed in its report.
The gazetted BBI team has 14 members including:
Mohamed Yusuf Haji
Lawi Imathiu
Maison Leshomo
James Matundura
Rose Moseu
Agnes Kavindu Muthama
Saeed Mwaguni
Peter Njenga
Zacchaeus Okoth
Adams Oloo
Amos Wako
Florence Omose
Morompi Ole Ronkei
John Seii
According to President Uhuru Kenyatta, the BBI team, in its new mandate will “conduct the validation of the Taskforce Report to a United Kenya through consultation with citizens, civil societies, the faith-based organizations, cultural leaders, the private sector, experts, etc.”
The fresh mandate are relatively similar to the first assignment when the task force was starting off.
The first preparation of the taskforce Report cost the taxpayer a whopping 10 billion shillings.
In the first report, the task force proposed the creation of the position of the Prime Minister who will be appointed by the President from among Members of the National Assembly (from a political party with the majority).
READ: Prime Minister Will Not Earn Any Salary – BBI Report
In the first BBI report, the President had powers to appoint and dismiss the Prime Minister with the functions of the Prime Minister being closely related to those of the Deputy President.
What raised eyebrows more was the recommendation by the task force that the Prime Minister was to earn no additional salary for the position, making the position a mere ceremonial one.
Those opposed to the second wave of sittings by the BBI are of the opinion that the President and his “brother” Raila Odinga are planning to change the report to introduce the position of a powerful Prime Minister position.
The way things are, it seems the first BBI report was just the beginning and the “real one” is coming up on the 30th of June. Stay tuned.
READ: BBI Report To Be Handed Over To President Uhuru Kenyatta On Tuesday