GUMO/KALONZO FOR YES

A strong team has been formed to spearhead the Yes campaign in Nairobi and ensure success of Saturday’s rally at Uhuru Park.

Regional Development minister Fred Gumo assisted by former Cabinet minister Maina Kamanda heads the team that interestingly brings together bitter political rivals from PNU and ODM.

Starehe MP Margaret Wanjiru who is in the No camp is the only Nairobi MP missing from the 16-member team, which also includes Makadara political foes Reuben Ndolo and Dick Wathika, Public Health minister Beth Mugo and her Dagoretti rival John Kiarie.

Mr Gumo’s opponent in Westlands Bett Tett and Mr Johnny Ibrahim who locked horns with Kamukunji MP Simon Mbugua also members.

“We don’t know God’s plan. But this team could remain together after the referendum. This could be the way to bring the country together,” Mr Kamanda said.

Mr Gumo, Mr Kamanda and Kasarani MP Elizabeth Ongoro said the team would be going round all the Nairobi constituencies urging people to attend in large numbers the Saturday rally and vote Yes during the referendum.

“We want to use persuasive approach. We don’t want to abuse or dismiss those in No camp but educate the people on gains of the Proposed Constitution,” Ms Ongoro said.

Dubbing the Saturday rally as “Mother of all rallies,” Mr Gumo said they target an attendance of one million people.

The event, the minister said, will be presided over by both President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, assisted by Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka.

Map strategy

They said they met Mr Odinga Wednesday morning to map strategy for the success of the rally and Yes campaigns.

During the rally, they said, experts will educate Kenyans on the Proposed Constitution and mainly focus on contentious clauses like land, abortion and kadhis' courts.

The Nairobi Yes committee resembles politicians who joined hands in Nairobi under Narc prior to 2002 elections.

In another development Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka is expected to educate the public on the Proposed Constitution on his way to Mwingi on Thursday.

The VP’s aide, Kaplich Barsito said he will make whistle stop tours in Juja, Thika, Matuu and Mwingi to point out to Kenyans the good in the proposed law.

“The VP will also be asking those who can attend Saturday’s rally in Nairobi to do so in large numbers. The VP will further be calling Kenyans to read the Proposed Constitution so that they could make a choice during the referendum,” Mr Barsito said.

The VP has come out strongly in defence of the Proposed Constitution to dispel earlier speculation that he did not have a firm position on the document.

The Saturday’s rally at Uhuru Park follows one last week by Evangelical churches, who called for the rejection of the Proposed Constitution.