We are going to give Uhuru another term until 2032 through BBI - Francis Atwoli

 

COTU boss Francis Atwoli. FILE

COTU boss Francis Atwoli says President Uhuru Kenyatta will still be on the government in 2022 after changing the constitution through Building Bridges Initiative referendum.

 

“Uhuru can use the BBI changes to remain President beyond 2022. Why are people assuming that they don’t know that Moi, after the constitutional changes of 1991, remained in power for another decade?, Atwoli paused.


"Once the Constitution is changed, we’ll begin from the default and nothing stops Kenyatta from running again, and we will support him,” he said.

 

He was pointing to the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) taskforce report anticipated to be launched any time this month.

 

It recommends underlying changes that will see the adjustment of the Executive arm of government, among others.


The first BBI report intended to re-introduce a prime ministerial position, and references closer to the content of the final document told us that the same is captured in the yet-to-released final draft.


Mr Atwoli said Kenyatta may as well choose an organisation related to that adopted by Russian strongman Vladimir Putin and former Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in 2008 that saw President Putin swap places with Mr Medvedev.


Mr Putin, a ruthless political strategist, bounced back as president in 2012 and still runs the show in Moscow after exhausting the initial maximum two terms in office.


“The same can happen here,” said Mr Atwoli.


 “President Kenyatta can take a junior position, wait for five or 10 years and then come back as President. He’s a young man and, the provision will be constitutional once the laws are changed,” he added.


Were that to happen, and considering he wins both the 2022 and 2027 presidential elections, Mr Kenyatta would have the legal window to rule the country until 2032.