Kang'ata's Prediction on BBI supported by new survey

TIFA research's new survey has indicated that if a referendum was to be held today, the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) would fail to sail through, supporting a leaked letter sent to President Kenyatta by Murang'a Senator Irung'u Kang'ata. 

According to the survey report, 32 percent of Kenyans would oppose the recommendations to change the constitution, 29 percent would vote yes while 16 percent are still undecided. 

Furthermore, 19 percent of those who would vote yes said that they wanted more money to be given to counties while 15 percent of the Yes voters said that the proposed positions of Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister would promote inclusivity in the country. 

Although 40 percent of the Yes voters gave no specific reason why they were voting to pass the referendum, 5 percent of those in this category  indicated that they support the creation of an official leader of the opposition for runners-up. 

On the other hand, 32 percent of those who would vote against BBI stated  that they lacked adequate information on the proposal while for 20 percent of this lot, BBI is not a priority amidst other challenges the country is facing.

6 percent of the No voters said increasing political power of the presidency threatens democracy while 9 percent of those in this category indicated that the proposal increases political tensions and divisions. 

10 percent of the undecided lot believe the process will be rigged to ensure it is passed while 68 percent of those in this category lack sufficient information about the BBI proposal. 

According TIFA, the report was conducted several weeks before Kangata's leaked letter became public.

The senator confirmed that he authored the letter  but denied leaking it to the media. 

"Kindly though, the letter dated December 30 (2020) is authentic. I didn't give it to the media. Someone else who had been copied did. I apologise for that. With the benefit of hindsight, I should have copied no one else. Trust substantive issues raised in the letter will be remedied," Kanga’ta tweeted.