The National Council of Elders has called on leaders to engage constructively in the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) discussion.
They said the BBI process should be headed by all leaders, and no one should be left behind.
Headed by its Patron Captain Kung’u Muigai and the Chairman Phares Rutere, the Council in a meeting with Deputy President (DP) William Ruto at his Karen residence on Tuesday, October 28, said the “reggae bravado” in the BBI debate must be stopped.
“We were contented with the presentations made by the Deputy President at the Bomas of Kenya. Other leaders should follow cue and focus on issues in the document,” said Muigai.
He said that many Kenyans were heartened to see DP Ruto and President Uhuru Kenyatta warm interactions at the Bomas of Kenya during the official unveiling of the BBI final report.
Besides the civil interactions between the two leaders, Muigai said they would also take the same message to opposition leader Raila Odinga to ensure that the element of 2022 campaigns that pervades the BBI debate is toned down.
Muigai said that the country is concerned with the increasing politicking, especially the ferrying of people to public gatherings.
“We don’t want to hear about people being transported in lorries [to political gatherings]. As elders, we say not to this kind of politics,” said Muigai.
The elders said they would continue pushing for stability and unity in the country.
“We want a peaceful and prosperous country,” said Mr Rutere.
DP Ruto asked the elders to take the lead in preaching unity and end tribalism in the country, adding that the BBI process should be people-centred and issue-based.
“They must moderate our politics to be less confrontational but more issue-based and encourage the establishment of national parties,” he said.
