Over 5 million BBI signatures collected, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga confirms

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Friday confirmed collection of over five million signatures endorsing the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) constitutional amendment bill.

While speaking in Nairobi, President Uhuru Kenyatta's handshake partner urged those still opposed to the bill to heed the will of the five million Kenyans.

"I appeal to the naysayers out there who claim to be speaking for the people to realize that the people have spoken and let the people continue speaking for themselves. Over 5 million Kenyans have thus far appended their signatures endorsing the BBI process. The journey continues!" the ODM party leader declared.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga during a ceremony in Nairobi where he received signatures collected in support of BBI referendum bill Pulse Live Kenya

The former PM was speaking after he received booklets containing the signatures collected countrywide.

End of BBI signature collection

Mr Odinga declared that the signature collection drive has now ended to pave way for the verification exercise by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Mount Kenya regional coordinators declared having collected a total of 643,889 signatures while the lower Eastern region led by former vice-president Kalonzo Musyoka declared 450,000 signatures.

Nakuru, Bomet, Kericho, Narok, Kajiado and Baringo counties declared a total of 667,700 signatures as other regions are yet to reveal their statistics.