Details surrounding the decision by President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga to cancel a trip to Mt Kenya region last year have emerged.
After the historical handshake in 2018, the two revealed plans to visit Mt Kenya region and other places across the country to familiarize people with contents of MoU.
But the trips were cancelled, although the two leaders have often met in their strongholds for social functions.
Minority Leader John Mbadi told the Nation that the two decided to put off the trips since they might have been misinterpreted for early 2022 campaigns and preconceived thoughts about BBI report.
Mr Mbadi said the President and Mr Odinga delayed their joint countrywide tours “so that they are not misconstrued to mean they were playing politics.
“Though they have visited some areas together, not necessarily to talk about this per se, certain functions have given them a platform to address issues of their coming together and working together as a country. But I think now once the BBI report is out then they will have a reason to move around and bring the country together,” Mr Mbadi said.
He noted that the two leaders realised that if they started moving around it may be misconstrued to mean they were already engaging in the politics of 2022.
“So I think they decided to take some steps back so as not to send mixed signals,” added Mr Mbadi.
BBI team is set to handover a report to the two principals, and the content will inform whether it will be tabled as a bill or will require a referendum.
The two leaders are now planning to revive the trips, with an aim of informing their supporters about the content. The report will be made available in October.
“I hope the two leaders will move around the country with the document, which says this is what we proposed and this is the direction the country should go, and this is what is going now to be reduced into a Bill,” said Raphael Tuju.
“ … that Bill either Parliament can pass it or if it requires a referendum then we go the way of a referendum because there are various ways of amending the Constitution — in Parliament or in a bipartisan way or through a referendum.”