RIFT VALLEY SAYS NO

President Kibaki’s tour of Rift Valley Province to drum up support for the draft constitution was on Wednesday met with stiff resistance from the local leaders.

Led by Agriculture minister William Ruto and his Roads counterpart, Mr Franklin Bett, the leaders told the Head of State that they were opposed to the draft in its current form.

They asked the President and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who are leading the Yes campaign, to reconsider their position by finding ways to thrash out some of the contentious issues, which they said were likely to derail the review.

However, the President maintained his stand, arguing that the country had wasted many years trying to realise a new constitution. “It is time to move forward by embracing the document,” he added.

“I want to request you, Mr President, to recall the last time we met in Nakuru when Catholic bishops, led by John Cardinal Njue, raised the issue of abortion, and we promised them that we would consider the matter,” Mr Ruto told the Head of State.

He also reminded him that past conflicts among communities in the province were based on contentious issues “which are now causing ripples in the draft.” The Eldoret North MP added: “We know the pain of a divisive referendum and that is why we are requesting a constitutional amendment.”

He spoke in Nakuru where President Kibaki held a public rally after officially opening a 16km stretch of the Lanet-Nakuru-Njoro road — a Sh3.27 billion project funded by the World Bank.

The President was with, among other dignitaries, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, Internal Security minister George Saitoti, and Mr Samuel Poghisio of Information. The latter two are from the province.

Wednesday’s rally came barely a day after 12 MPs from the region met the President at State House in Nairobi where it is believed they discussed draft constitution issues. Some of the Rift Valley leaders have vowed to reject the draft at the referendum if it is presented in its current form.

Before his arrival, President Kibaki used the visit to campaign for the new set of laws. He travelled by road and made several stops along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway to drum up support for the draft. He told the residents not to heed the propaganda of people opposed to the proposed constitution.

The first stop-over

His first stop-over was in Limuru, more than 100km from Nakuru town. But here the President did not seem to be reading from the same script as the VP. Although the two were sending the same message — urging the people to support the draft – the President was calling for a Yes vote in the referendum and for amendments to be made later.

According to President Kibaki, 95 per cent of the proposed law is good, so changes could be made to it after it is adopted. But Mr Musyoka suggested that amendments be made first to avoid a scenario similar to the 2005 referendum, when Kenyans were sharply divided over the Bomas draft.