Nominated Senator Isaac Mwaura now says that contrary to the way it is being packaged, as a push to unite the country, the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) is more of a political contest.
Under the leadership of President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga, the BBI, through the BBI taskforce, has proposed constitutional changes it argues will help the country avoid its recurrent leadership and social issues.
But Mwaura now says that it's because of its political nature that the entire BBI issue is attracting more political duels, both with Uhuru at the centre.
He says that some politicians, in a veiled reference to Raila, are hoping to use the BBI to make amendments that will facilitate their takeover from Uhuru after the 2022 polls.
"This is about a political contest, there are some people from ODM who want to use the BBI to succeed Uhuru through the handshake (Hii is about a political contest, kuna watu wa ODM wanataka kutumia BBI kuridhi Uhuru kupitia handshake)," he said on Radio Jambo's Mazungumzo Waziwazi, Saturday.
On the other hand, he said that some of the Mt Kenya politicians questioning or backing Uhuru's stand on the report are looking for avenues to succeed him in the region.
He pointed out that some have identified the gap set to remain after his looming retirement, which they are using varying ways in a bid to occupy it.
He noted that as Mt Kenya politicians, they will see to it that the initiative only served its intended purpose and not further divide the nation.
"In Central, some people want to succeed him as he is leaving. But the BBI was to unite Kenyans, we won't let it divide them (Kule Central watu wanataka kumridhi kwa sababu anatoka. Lakini BBI ni ya kuleta wananchi pamoja na hatutakubali igawanye watu)," he added.
On Thursday, Uhuru lashed out at Mt Kenya politicians for opposing the looming BBI referendum, accusing them of misleading Kenyans by rooting for a parliamentary mode.