Kamau Kipkemoi sues over draft question

Supporters of the proposed constitution are now pointing an accusing finger at the NO camp over what they call 'machinations to derail the review process using the erroneous draft'.

The NO camp on its part is accusing the government of a plot to adulterate the draft.

Barely a week after Attorney General Amos Wako published the final draft in which Kenyans will vote for at the referendum, the revelation of the existence of a separate draft bearing the words national security cleverly crafted into article 24 1 (d) is snowballing into a political storm among the Yes and No crusaders.

The parliamentary select committee on constitutional affairs and the parliamentary caucus on reforms are accusing opponents of the draft of orchestrating the conspiracy to scuttle the reform process.

PSC chairman Abdikhadir Mohammed on Thursday dismissed calls for the stoppage of the process as an exercise in futility and instead urged for speedy and thorough investigations to unearth the masterminds of the alteration to the draft.

On Wednesday, higher education minister William Ruto who is seen to be spearheading the NO campaign said the insertion of the words 'national security' in section 24 1(d) on limitation of rights and fundamental freedoms drastically changed the entire section of the bill of rights.

The clause in question reads in part " The need to ensure that the enjoyment of rights and fundamental freedoms by any individual does no prejudice national security, the rights and fundamental rights of others".

The NO camp claims the fishy crafting of the draft is a well-choreographed conspiracy by the government to crucify the Attorney General.

The interim electoral commission has already framed the question for the referendum which is do you approve the proposed new constitution.

However two people have gone to court to challenge the question claiming it limits their freedom of expression.

Kamau Kipkemoi Daniel and Cosmas Kipkemoi Koech have also termed the question as undemocratic.