RUTO MUST GO

It was a show of force and a clear statement at Uhuru Park as President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga kicked off the push for a ‘Yes’ vote in the forthcoming referendum.

Calling on the ‘Yes’ camp proponents to spread the gospel and convert the naysayers, the two principals led 25 Cabinet ministers, 65 MPs and several thousand civic leaders at a well-attended public rally at the historic Uhuru Park in Nairobi. "It is our duty to persuade those opposing the proposed constitution so that we get everybody on board. It is important as a nation that we speak in one voice," said Kibaki.
‘Yes’ supporters at Uhuru park on Saturday. President Kibaki said those opposing the draft are "our friends and not enemies".
At the venue, the leaders reminisced on the nostalgic moment eight years ago when they cobbled together the alliance that swept Kanu out of power.

Raila recalled the momentous occasion on October 14, 2002, when the Narc Alliance — a merger between NAK of Kibaki, the late Kijana Wamalwa and Charity Ngilu, and the Rainbow Alliance, a breakaway faction of then Kanu Government led by Raila — promised to deliver change.

On Saturday, the PM noted that the same leaders, including Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, Internal Security Minister George Saitoti and Water Minister Charity Ngilu, were gathered at the podium united by the ‘Yes’ push.

Raila declared that he had no doubt that the team would equally deliver a new Constitution at the August 4 referendum vote.

"Today, we again come together and I am sure the change will come," said Raila, whose ‘Kibaki Tosha’ endorsement is credited with uniting a fractious opposition behind Kibaki and eventually trouncing Uhuru Kenyatta, then Kanu’s presidential candidate.

On Saturday, the clock seemed to have turned full circle for erstwhile political foes-turned-allies as Party of National Unity and Orange Democratic Movement leading lights, whose bitter contest in 2007 nearly pushed the country to civil war, shared the platform determined to fight off opposition to the Proposed Constitution.

The event — billed as the official launch of the ‘Yes’ campaign — had all the trappings of a State function, leaving no doubt the Government was determined to see the Proposed Constitution passed.

And though Raila made it clear that the ‘Yes’ group had not yet started campaigning, alive to the fact the timing is outside the official campaign period, speaker after speaker ensured the event had all the hallmarks of a campaign rally.

Former Anglican Archbishop David Gitari, who led calls for reforms in his heydays and who has broken ranks with fellow clergymen to support the Proposed Constitution, led prayers at the function. He said Kenyans should be allowed to vote with their conscience without feeling the guilt of defying either their religious or political leaders.

Ngilu, Heritage Minister William Ole Ntimama and Central Organisation of Trade Unions boss Francis Atwoli urged Kibaki and Raila to fire ministers campaigning against the document.

Ministers William Ruto (Higher Education), Samuel Poghisio (Information) and Naomi Shaban (Special Programmes) have defied the Cabinet’s collective resolve to support ‘Yes’ campaign and are pressing on with ‘No’ campaigns.

But the President and PM skirted the requests, despite more prodding from the crowd that chanted: "Ruto Must Go!"

Instead, Kibaki said those opposing the draft are "our friends and not enemies" as he asked the ‘Yes’ team to persuade their rivals to change their minds.

And in a symbolic gesture to stress peace and harmony despite divergent opinions the President, the Vice-President and the Prime Minister released white doves to the air at the end of the function.

The Head of State had worked up the crowd asking them by a show of hands to pledge to support the proposed constitution, which they responded in the affirmative.
President Kibaki addresses a public rally at Uhuru Park, Nairobi, on Saturday. Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga are leading the push for the Proposed Constitution.
But he reminded them not to sit on their laurels because it was not yet over until the draft gains approval of majority of Kenyans at the referendum.

"As we leave here, we should be aware that we haven’t passed the constitution yet. Let us resolve to fight for it until the end. We have until August 4 to persuade everyone," Kibaki said.

But even though the President struck a reconciliatory chord, leaders who spoke before him were asking that he and the PM crack the whip on ‘dissenters.’

Ngilu sensationally claimed that those opposed to the draft are the "same ones who sneaked in undesirable things" in the Proposed Constitution published last week.

She was referring to the illegal amendment to the Bill of Rights in certain copies produced by the Government Printer, a matter that is now the subject of a police investigation.