AfricaPress-Kenya: Baringo Senator Gideon Moi has drummed support for the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report, noting it would solve numerous challenges facing the country.
Senator Gideon spoke yesterday at Kampi Ya Moto in Nakuru during the funeral of Chris Kaimoi, 31, who died on October 6 in the US after a short illness.
He singled out the youth as the biggest beneficiaries of the BBI process.
“The document has taken into consideration many issues that hinder our youth from attaining their potential. Tax holidays for investments by youth and a break from repaying education loans will enable them focus on establishing themselves and businesses after school,” said Gideon.
The BBI report has proposed a seven-year tax holiday for youth-owned businesses while graduates will be allowed a four-year grace period before starting to repay loans offered by the Higher Education Loans Board.
The BBI has further proposed devolving of 35 per cent of national revenue to the counties which, according to Gideon, will spur economic growth in the lowest administrative units.
The senator urged the youth to seek official registration of their ventures to grant them easy access to county tenders once the funds are devolved.
“More money in the counties shall translate to more development projects. Counties will need people to undertake the projects and youth have their share on this. It is time to position themselves as individuals or in groups to access such tenders as we wait for the BBI to be passed,” he said.
He said with such economic empowerment, the country will greatly benefit from grassroots level development while at the same time uplifting the livelihoods of ordinary citizens.
Gideon noted the report’s recommendations to create an all-inclusive government structure would go a long way in uniting Kenyans.
Common direction
“It is no longer about politics of who wins but about a common direction for a country once elections are over. Every community shall have its chance of representation in government,” said Gideon.
Senator Gideon’s wife, Zahra, called on the youth to remain focused on their goals in life.
She described Kaimoi as a dedicated youth who was promising as a family man and in his career in computer technology.
“At his tender age, Kaimoi has done so much to be emulated by our youth. He remained focused on his studies and career while in the US and never forgot that his home is Kenya. Despite the pleasures of Western countries, he never lost his track,” said Zahra.
