HEALING THE RIFT

PNU and ODM members of Parliament meet on Wednesday to settle differences threatening to derail the Yes team’s push for the proposed constitution.

On Tuesday, ODM will discuss issues they will raise at the Grand Coalition session following a low key weekend rally by the Yes team.

On Monday, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka chaired a meeting of the PNU side where a list of conditions to be met by the two parties was agreed, sources said.

Even though the VP declared that the Yes team was intact, those at the meeting said they had discussed the performance of the joint secretariat, which was launched on May 10, and his heckling at Uhuru Park two weeks ago.

Among the list of demands were that both sides ensure leaders will not be heckled at the joint rallies and that no leader should take credit for the success of the campaigns.

Both sides should have equal roles in the secretariat and during campaigns, which would be purely for a new constitution, not a springboard for the 2012 elections.

Open minds

They will also demand to hold more separate rallies besides, the joint meetings.

The decision by some PNU ministers and MPs not to attend the rally in Embakasi was linked to these conditions.

ODM secretary general Anyang’ Nyong’o said they were ready to hold the meeting.

“The ideas are welcome because we must approach this with open minds,” he said.

Prof Nyong’o said the heckling had been explained and should not be dwelt on. “It was unfortunate but we should move on,” he said.