TOUGH

Members of Parliament are divided over the position taken by Agriculture Minister William Ruto to lead a ‘No’ campaign, a move that has seen his presumed political buddies abandoning him.

Without Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, with whom it was presumed he was working to neutralise Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s influence in the next election, Ruto has been left with political minnows who, however have vowed to stand by him to the end.

And two of his allies, Joshua Kuttuny (Cherangany) and Konoin’s Julius Kones, have said they were not bothered with the final outcome of the referendum. They said they only want to go down in history as having warned Kenyans that the document was bad.

Mr Kuttuny said: "Ruto and those standing with him will be remembered that they had foreseen trouble in the document. The draft as it is will be a recipe for chaos on land and issues that Christians are pointing out. It is better we stand against it to the end but history will prove us right later on."

On his part Dr Kones claimed the campaign against the Proposed Constitution has gained momentum in the grassroots and would prevail at the referendum.

But Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo, assistant ministers Richard Onyonka and Kareke Mbiuki scoffed at the position taken by Ruto and his supporters, dismissing it as a waste of time.

The ministers and Nyatike MP Omondi Anyanga said Ruto should stop engaging in what they termed negative energy.

Mr Mutula said: "A ‘No’ vote is just the wrong thing to imagine about now. Ruto was chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee in the 9th Parliament and lost narrowly to the current chairman. By saying ‘no’, he is denying Kenyans the benefit of his experience in the process."

The minister said he was ready as the line minister to meet with Ruto and those other MPs opposed to the draft and listen to their fears.