The Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) was a constitutional amendment process launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga following their March 2018 Handshake. Officially aimed at addressing historical injustices, ethnic divisions, and governance challenges, the BBI proposed creating a prime minister position, expanding the executive, and increasing county revenue allocation. Critics argued it was designed to accommodate political elites and create positions for Uhuru and Raila after the 2022 election. The BBI task force, led by Yusuf Haji and Dennis Waweru, conducted public consultations and released a report in 2020. Parliament passed the BBI constitutional amendment bill in 2021, but the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court all declared it unconstitutional, ruling that a president could not initiate constitutional changes through a popular initiative. The BBI's defeat was a major setback for Uhuru and Raila.
See Also
The Handshake March 2018 The Constitution of 2010 The 2010 Constitution Process
Sources
- Building Bridges Initiative Report, 2020.
- Kenya Law Reports: Supreme Court BBI judgment, 2022.
- Nation Media Group BBI coverage 2018-2022.