YES CAMPAIGN

Two cabinet ministers and an assistant minister have appealed to Kenyans to read and understand contents of the draft constitution before making any decisions.

Internal Security Minister Prof George Saitoti, Agriculture Minister Dr Sally Kosgei and Internal Security Assistant Minister Simeon Lesirma regretted that some people have decided to oppose the draft constitution simply because their leaders are opposed to it.

"This draft constitution is not perfect but we all agree it's better than the current constitution. We can vote for it and embark on amendments later," said Prof Saitoti.

They called on Kenyans to avoid being influenced by politicians.

"The country is yearning for a new constitution and the mood is clear. For how long are we going to continue playing politics with a critical issue like the constitution?" asked Prof Saitoti.

"We were able to do away with the unpopular mlolongo system of voting and multiparty was accepted but heckling and mudslinging has frustrated efforts to get a new constitution up to date," said Prof Saitoti.

"The PCs, DCs, Dos and Chiefs are the face of the government and cannot be phased out. Even Mps who were opposed to them before they were elected to parliament are now demanding for creation of districts and other administrative regions because they understand their value," said the minister.

The legislators were speaking in Nandi South District after laying a foundation stone for the construction of the district's headquarters, to be constructed at a cost of 30 million shillings.

Prof Saitoti and Dr Kosgei appealed to the provincial administrators at the grassroots to encourage Kenyans to register as voters so that they may be able to vote during the referendum.

"Even those opposed to the draft constitution can only be able to voice their concerns through voting and they can only do that if they are registered as voters," said Dr Kosgei.

The Agriculture minister maintained that she will vote yes during the referendum and said as a leader she had a duty to tell Kenyans the truth about the draft constitution and leave them to make a decision.

"I have read the constitution several times and as a leader I will tell you when you are being cheated. Let's wait for the civic education to shed more light but that is my position," said Dr Kosgei.

Mr Lesirma said there was no need for negotiations as a lot of discussions had been done by different groups and it was only prudent to pass the draft constitution and sort out other emerging issues later.

Meanwhile, Gender and Social Services Minister Esther Murugi has called for sober debate on the abortion clause in the draft constitution saying the issue risks being hijacked by people out to scuttle the review process.

Murugi called on women to come on board and express their concerns on the issue instead of leaving the debate entirely to men.

Speaking in Mombasa the minister said that men had no right to discuss the reproductive health of women.

Murugi drummed up support for the draft arguing that women representation in parliament would be well distributed.

"For the first time we have a draft constitution that comprehensively addresses the women issues and if looked through a gender lens it's a constitution for women'' said the minister.

Mrs.Murugi said through the proposed National land Commission issues around land resource will be adequately managed to the satisfaction of all communities.

"Land belonging to communities will be managed at community level while parliament will enact the legislation determining the maximum acreage an individual can hold'' she said.