Junet Mohamed slams Kang’ata over scathing letter to Uhuru

MP Junet Mohamed has poked holes into Senate Majority Chief Whip Irungu Kang’ata’s letter to President Uhuru Kenyatta on the popularity of the initiative in Central Kenya.

He wondered when Mr Kang’ata became a pollster to deduce that the initiative was unpopular in Mount Kenya region.

The Suna East legislator further questioned the rationale for commissioning an opinion poll on the drive by the senator, while it was still at the initial stages of implementation.

“I don’t come from that area (Mount Kenya) so I cannot confirm what (Mr) Kang’ata is saying but this is the gospel according to Kang’ata,” he said.

“He may have his own opinion but I don’t know when Kang’ata became a pollster in this country.”

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman Wafula Chebukati launched the BBI signatures verification exercise at the Bomas of Kenya on Thursday last week and the process is expected to take about 40 days.

Murang’a Senator Irungu Kang’ata yesterday issued an early warning that the initiative could flop when it gets to the people to make a decision about it.

In a letter to President Kenyatta the senator says he has come to the conclusion that BBI is unpopular in Mt Kenya.

“Let us emphasize on the soft power and art of persuasion. In my humble view, the provincial administration in BBI process should be invisible,” he tells Kenyatta.

Junet Mohamed.

He cited opposition to the expanded Executive, the involvement of provincial administration and campaigns by former MPs as some of the issues working against the initiative.

He adds that failure by the President and Raila to make a charm offensive steps, BBI risks suffering a painful death.

He wants Kenyatta to take charge of marketing BBI in Mt Kenya region, saying the current campaign is uncoordinated.

BBI is unpopular in Mt Kenya, Kang’ata tells Uhuru (watch)

In his new year speech to the country, the head of state made a case for the BBI saying it will cure the winner-takes-all politics, cited as the cause of election chaos in the country.

COTU boss Francis Atwoli has insisted that regardless of the letter, BBI was bound to be supported by a majority of Kenyans.

BBI will pass despite Kangata's letter: Atwoli#NTVAtOne @murithi_kenn pic.twitter.com/pCtrgUMzou

— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) January 4, 2021