West Pokot leaders and stakeholders have thrown their weight behind the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report but have called for further amendments.
The leaders led by Governor John Lonyangapuo held a consultative meeting at Kishaunet grounds and agreed to support the document.
The leaders hired lawyer Mr. Humphrey Manyange to explain to them the contents in the draft BBI report.
Governor Lonyangapuo who read the recommendations said there is a need for extensive circulation of the BBI report copies.
They affirmed their support for President Uhuru Kenyatta, saying they will spearhead the BBI campaigns in the County, “We reaffirm out support to President Uhuru Kenyatta as we’ve been doing before,” stated Lonyangapuo.
The Governor, who will lead the BBI campaigns in the County, said the report should to be translated into different local languages for ease of interpretation and understanding. He added that it should be presented to different vernacular stations, “Our people and others need to understand the report well in order to make informed decisions.”
They suggested that all communities including the minorities should to be brought on board in the proposed constitutional amendments.
They also suggested under the expanded executive, the prime minister should not come from the same political party, in order to foster inclusivity and erase winner takes it all mentality.
West Pokot woman representative Ms Lillian Tomitom proposed that the Woman Representative position should be retained at the National Assembly to continue with the mandate of overseeing Affirmative Action Fund.
Former Maendeleo ya Wanawake Chairperson in the County Mrs Mary Mariach noted that the two-thirds gender rule should also be applied to the President and Prime Minister positions.
They proposed that the inclusivity component in the BBI report should be expanded and made clearer in the constitutional changing process so that all Kenyans feel included.