ODM party leader Raila Odinga has reacted to Thursday’s Supreme Court ruling on the Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2020.
The apex court, in a majority judgment, upheld a decision by the Appeals Court that declared the push to amend the constitution through the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) unconstitutional.
In a statement, Odinga applauded the verdict by the seven-judge bench, stating that the ruling upheld the sovereignty of the people of Kenya.
“I wish to applaud the verdict of the Supreme Court today as a much desired reiteration of the sovereignty of the people of Kenya, particularly in the backdrop of questions surrounding amendments to the Constitution,” said Odinga.
Odinga, who spearheaded the constitutional changes alongside President Kenyatta, also noted that the verdict was empathetic that every State organ must always subject itself to the people of Kenya and must never usurp their sovereignty by substituting their will with that of State officers and State organs.
“I am particularly pleased by the introspection that the Chief Justice has started regarding the role of the Judiciary in the constitutional order and its relationship with other arms of Government,” said Odinga.
Raila, who is eyeing the presidency under the Azimio La Umoja coalition, further indicated that it is time the country has a conversation regarding the separation of powers between the Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary and the roles of checks and balances of each arm of government in order to enhance governance in “our constitutional order.”
At the same time, Odinga said proponents of BBI will retreat to deliberate on the way forward and come up with a new direction.
“I note that the BBI process has been upheld. I also note that the contents of the bill itself was upheld save for the provisions of the 2nd Schedule. What has been faulted is the role that the State is said to have played at the commencement of the popular initiative,” said Odinga.
“We shall deliberate on the way forward and decide on a future course of action that protects the interests of all those who voted to see the amendments come to light.”
Kenyans don’t want communism…
Kenyans don’t want communism.
The problem of Raila is he is a communist shoulder who refuses to see the writing on the wall. Majority of Kenyan tribes are not communists.
The basic structure of the Kenyan constitution must be explained.
“Odinga applauded the…
“Odinga applauded the verdict by the seven-judge bench, stating that the ruling upheld the sovereignty of the people of Kenya”..AIN’T THIS SOME BS OR WHAT??
WASN’T he part and puzzle or shoving BBI into our THROATS??
Didn’t RAILA, UHURU and GOONS petition to the high court??
Kweli, these folks believe that KENYANS are stupid or we forget real easy.
Surprisingly, folks will buy into this BS and try to justify it.
KWELI, WANJINGA NI SISI.
Good news. Raila and Uhuru…
Good news. Raila and Uhuru needs to go. Useless selfish policies.
Well spoken sir!!
Well spoken sir!!
Just out of curiosity…
Just out of curiosity…
compare the 18 Amendments of the Kenyan Constitution to the 27 Amendments of United States.
Supreme Courts of America has stripped it’s citizens off their Rights….
Their 1st Amendment gone
Their 4th Amendment gone
Their 5th Amendment gone
Their 6th Amendment gone
Their 8th Amendment gone
Their 13th Amendment gone
Their 14th Amendment gone
All them Amendments wiped off by one Law…Terry vs Ohio (1968), the Lynch of Death for Blacks in America and nearly all of them don’t even know that Law.
Land of the Free..my sweet sexy African ass
The other lower and high…
The other lower and high court judges were victimized, persecuted and given names as “ judge pandia” in their ruling on BBI. And going by this, I don’t think anything makes the Supreme Court judges any different from being lambasted from the same characters. Behind the scenes ( only safe for election time) believe me I bet they are given same blame and names by these partitioners. Am talking about non other than Uhuru/ Raila plus their surrogates.
In their quest to bring about this BBI scandal, where about 20 billion as been siphoned so far, and more misplaced time, they forgot to look into the plight of the fast increasing number of Kenyans sleeping hungry.
They forgot about the shrinking economy. In fact they contributed to the sky rocketing of food prices in the country. The big four agenda which was aimed at jump starting the economy was muted. They then only concentrated in taking away from the taxpayer, the farmer and the country at large. They cheated people that BBI was going to bring peace, wealth, employment, more money to the counties. See, BBI is not not an enterprise. It wasn’t going to create any money but instead take it even more especially when it comes to the creation of prime minister with a battery of deputies.
If that money is available now then what is preventing Uhuru from increasing the county dispersement at least to start with? What is preventing the large constituencies from being split? You do not need BBI to do that.!! What is preventing the government/ counties from collecting every revenue? We don’t need bbi to do that. We very well know this sneaky BBI scandal was all about stealing and eventually Uhuru extending his term by creating prime minister position. Inclusivity is not rewarding election losers. That’s not how democracy works. In an election, there will always be winners and losers.
One question, why did the…
One question, why did the BBI primaries not consider “sovereignty of the people of Kenya”, why wait for the supreme court?
Raila I am impressed by your…
Raila I am impressed by your response and temperament to this judgement. You respect it fully and are in support of all the organs of the government working independently for the sake of the country, for the sake of Wanjiku. Not everything is political!! You have shown maturity. You are a TRUE patriot. Indeed this is the reason we fought for a new constitution. You have my vote totally. This is the reason you are the preferable candidate. This is the reason you will be the fifth president.
A Mandela moment awaits- no doubt!
Mugikuyu, that’s an…
Mugikuyu, that’s an impressive eulogy. All the same good luck.