Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen on Saturday, January 25, excited Mombasa residents after declaring his support for the looming BBI referendum.
Speaking at the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) rally at the Mama Ngina grounds in Mombasa, Murkomen changed tune when he said he supports calls for a referendum.
While inviting Murkomen to the podium to speak, Governor Hassan Joho put the legislator on the spot on whether or not he supports calls for a referendum.
Murkomen, who doubles as the Senate Majority Leader, responded in the affirmative, as he got cheers from the crowd which gathered at the Mama Ngina Waterfront Ground, to attend the coastal edition of the ongoing countrywide BBI Forums.
The vocal senator stated that the referendum would be the way forward for the people of Kenya to pass the BBI.
He said that time was ripe for a referendum that would create Prime Minister and Deputy PM posts.
“The people of Kenya do not oppose all the recommendations, whether be it PM or deputy PM, then we shall give them a referendum,” Murkomen who had earlier been heckled upon his entry added.
“Kuongea na kuandika imetosha, a time has come that we must sort the problems that are affecting the people of Kenya…” – Sen. Kipchumba Murkomen #BBIInMombasa pic.twitter.com/sHqcz2PYCL
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) January 25, 2020
“The BBI has brought us to that point where we no longer recognize each other as adversaries. The people of Kenya through all commissions want our problems sorted and solvedi,” he said.
“Whenever politicians address Kenyans and tell them that we have a problem, then who would solve the issues. We should bring report cards and show them what we have done,” Murkomen asserted.
Murkomen further added that Kenyans will henceforth work together and that the coastal injustices must be sorted through the BBI process.
“Problems ailing Coast residents need to be sorted out, not written down for record-keeping.”
His change of tune shocked many, including Siaya Senator James Orengo, who said miracles were happening on the podium.
He was also lauded by the crowd for recognizing Odinga as ‘Baba’ in the beginning of his speech.
“Mheshimiwa Waziri Mkuu, Raila Amolo Odinga ambaye ni ‘Baba’. Baba wetu Raila tunafurahi leo…” He said as he begins his speech.
Ukitaka miujiza, usiende kanisani kesho kwa sababu tumeona miujiza hapa Mama Ngina leo. Murkomen amemwita Raila Odinga 'baba' – Senator Orengo. #BBIInMombasa pic.twitter.com/AzKXzdLVcK
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) January 25, 2020
While addressing the media earlier, Murkomen said that they will now be participating in BBI rallies.
“We want to redirect the river back to its course so that our focus is no longer about who is outside and who is not but about the issues that are affecting the citizens of this republic.”
Murkomen had claimed some people were planning to humiliate leaders allied to Deputy President William Ruto during the BBI forum.
Murkomen, through his official Twitter handle, on Friday, said he had been threatened against attending the meeting.
“I have been threatened that if I attend the Mombasa BBI meeting I shall be humiliated by being denied a seat, not being allowed to talk or even if I am allowed to talk I shall be heckled. If that’s what it takes to unite this country so be it and I am ready to absorb. Tukutane Mombasa,” Murkomen tweeted.