Nairobi women caucus drum up support for BBI
Women leaders in Nairobi have vowed to fully support the BBI constitutional amendment bill, 2020.
Led by Nairobi County Assembly Women Caucus chairperson Dorris Kanario, the women have said that the bill will help improve the living standards of city residents.
The women highlighted the 35% allocation to counties, creation of the Ward Development Fund ,
youth commission and the tax holiday to youths as some of the reasons they wanted the bill passed.
Speaking in a meeting in Nairobi, Kanario wanted the 35% allocation remitted on fixed dates and that treasury should borrow to fulfil it’s obligations in case of insufficient funds.
“If there are any legacies bequeathed to the citizens by president of Kenya’s administration should be none other than BBI. Through the initiative, women will be empowered, two thirds gender rule will be achieved, equal distribution of resources and opportunities will be a gain to us. Providing nomination and replacement of a governor and deputy governor is a good direction as the amendment provides for consideration of gender balance in nominating a deputy governor. ” she said.
South C Ward Representative who doubles up as the deputy majority chief whip in Nairobi Assembly noted that the bill will ensure tenders settled within sixty days while providing tax holidays to young people in business.
“BBI will promote national cohesion and integration, ethnic based elections will end through this Bill and expand the national executive which will in turn guarantee national inclusivity,” said Waithera.
She further added that accountability of the national and county executive to the citizens through Parliament will be ensured.
The women also lauded president Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga for coming up with such a bill that seeks to enhance the capacity of NHIF to roll out free and comprehensive medical cover for all people over the age of sixty five.
Nairobi county is amongst the first ten counties to sail through the bill where the county legislatures had vowed to pass with or without the car grants promised by president Kenyatta.
The bill faces tight opposition by the Deputy president William Ruto and his allies who allege that the bill prompts to create positions without elaborations to raise funds to cater for the budget.
This follows after the Cabinet Secretary for finance Ukur Yattani last week announced national debt stands at 7.8 trillion while the next financial 2021/2022 has a deficit of 261 billion.
He said the country cannot sustain it’s own budget.
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