YES OR NO?

A group of ODM-Kenya members have threatened to oppose the proposed constitution unless contentious issues are changed ahead of the referendum.

Led by Coast ODM-Kenya regional coordinator Benson Maithya, the group said the government should not force Kenyans to support the draft.

Mr Maithya said there was need to consider the views of people at the grassroots before endorsing the draft.

“We are asking the government to postpone the referendum to incorporate clauses which have been left out of the draft,” said Mr Maithya.

Addressing journalists at Saphirre hotel, Mombasa, the group vowed to reject the draft if it is not amended.

“The issue of land, Kadhis court and abortion need to be looked at before the draft is brought back to people for referendum,” said Ms Amina Abdalla, a women’s representatives.

“We want the draft to be changed now since after the referendum we need to seek more than one million signatures to change the clauses which is next to impossible,” she said.

Ms Afya Rahama said there was no problem in postponing the referendum if that is the wish of Kenyans.

Meanwhile, an MP on Tuesday claimed that Prime Minister Raila Odinga was masquerading as a ‘Yes’ campaigner.

Mutito’s Kiema Kilonzo said Mr Odinga was out to demonise ‘No’ campaigners with a view to vexing them to harden their stance which would lead to defeat of the document.

Reverse psychology

“He could be playing reverse psychology games to ensure defeat of the document,” the MP said.

He was addressing a press conference at Parliament Buildings, Mr Kilonzo.

The Prime Minister has accused No proponents of hypocrisy and claimed they had dubious backgrounds.

He said those leading the campaign have grabbed large tracts of public land and were against the proposed draft as it would reclaim such resources.