NO READY

Higher Education Minister William Ruto’s ‘No’ campaign team is sharpening its arsenals ahead of the constitutional referendum.

In what may be viewed as ‘consolidating home support before venturing out’, the Ruto team has for some weeks restricted its campaigns to Rift Valley.

His Cabinet colleagues have been visiting his home turf to drum up support for the Proposed Constitution, and this perhaps informs the urgency to shield his base from further infiltration.

He has marshalled the support of Cabinet ministers Naomi Shaban (Special Progammes), Samuel Poghisio (Information and Communication) and several assistant ministers in pushing for the rejection of the draft at the referendum.

Perhaps to demonstrate his seriousness, the Higher Education minister toured the North Rift in the company of Poghisio, former Energy Assistant Minister Charles Keter and Cherangany MP Joshua Kutuny while Attorney General Amos Wako was unveiling the Proposed Constitution at KICC, Nairobi, in a function attended by President Kibaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and other Cabinet ministers.

Last weekend, he also assembled 28 MPs for a fundraising in his constituency where Shaban helped to raise Sh11.7 million in aid of women groups in the constituency.

Mosop MP David Koech said the ‘No’ team was working on a secretariat and that a programme for rallies would be released later.

Koech clarified a recent report in a section of the media on the membership of the ‘No’ summit was not authentic. "We are still putting up our secretariat and working on structures and members of the co-ordinating committee," he said.

He added: "When it comes to launching our programmes and campaigns, we will do it openly. We have nothing to hide. Whoever leaked the story had an ulterior motive."

Back stand

He said the ‘No’ team would soon be moving out of the Rift Valley to other provinces.

Despite the onslaught against Ruto by ‘Yes’ ministers, observers say many North Rift residents still back his stand.

Co-operatives Minister Joseph Nyagah, who was last Sunday hosted by Emgwen MP Elijah Lagat at a fundraiser in the constituency, rooted for a ‘Yes’ vote.

But Lagat insisted the residents were opposed to passing the draft without amendments.

The Minister for Higher Education can now boast of having the support of two ministers — Shaban and Poghisio, who last week accompanied him to three rallies in Cherangany, West Pokot, and Eldoret North constituencies. "I want to set the record straight that I’m in the ‘No’ side and I would not change my mind on the issue," the Information Minister said.

Poghisio, who is the chairman of ODM-Kenya, has taken a position different from that of party leader and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka who is on the ‘Yes’ side.

"I cannot support a document that has the potential of causing chaos. History will judge me harshly if I do so," he said during a rally at Chebareria in West Pokot.

During a morning talk show on a local FM station early in the week, Ruto said he was aware some ministers feared joining the ‘No’ side, as they wanted to protect their positions.

"MPs from Rift Valley in the ‘Yes’ side believe that those in the Cabinet who have opposed the draft would be sacked after the referendum and they are angling themselves to be appointed to replace them," he claimed.

Rongai MP Lucas Kigen said the attempt by Cabinet ministers to turn around the tide in the region would flop.

"The people are decided, there is little one can do when it comes to that. They would not support the draft. Let’s wait for the referendum outcome and time will vindicate us," Kigen said.