150 000 000

The United States Government has pledged Sh150 million towards voter education on the proposed constitution before the referendum.

Speaking Tuesday, the US ambassador to Kenya said that his country will also offer funding towards the referendum process, to ensure that it is free and fair.

He urged Kenyans to register as voters so that they can decide on how they will vote during the referendum.

The proposed constitution, he added, will unite the country as the citizens have waited for long.

“The process is being followed intensively by the US Government,” he said during a joint press conference with Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka at the latter's Jogoo House office.

He stated that the referendum is important for the government as it is the high point in the reform agenda.

“The US regards the new framework as the centrepiece of the entire reform agenda, very crucial to Kenya… and hopes that if put in place it will promote the country’s democracy and prosperity”, Mr. Ranneberger said.

Mr Musyoka said that if voted for, the draft constitution will be an “instrument of national healing."

The government, he further said, will continue holding talks with the Church in order to have a non contested referendum.

“We cannot afford to personalise the review process. This is not a Church against the State issue and we cannot close the window on dialogue.”

“The constitution-making process is the sole responsibility of Kenyans and hopefully, this time, unlike in 2005, it will be non-contested,” he added.

Elsewhere, the National Youth Development Initiative said they will reject the draft constitution as they fear it will cause divisions in the country.

“We believe the country has not reconciled well enough and anything that can only polarise the nation will only cause a flare up,” the initiative’s chairman Mr Nick Sakwa said.

They urged the Attorney General not to publish the draft constitution until the contentious issues are addressed.

The country, Mr Sakwa added, is not at a constitutional crisis, thus the process should not be rushed.
“The draft has not been published nor the referendum dates set yet the two principals are on the campaign trail,” the youth leader noted.

He maintained that voters should be educated on the draft constitution before the campaigns for either side start.