YES RALLY ON 15/5/10

A Political Parties Joint Secretariat has been formed to co-ordinate and oversee civic education and campaigns for the "Yes" team.

The resolution was arrived at after a consultative forum chaired by President Mwai Kibaki on Tuesday at Kenyatta International Conference Centre to discuss a strategy in support of the new Constitution.

The leaders agreed to hold the first "Yes" public rally this Saturday at Uhuru Park , Nairobi .

The leaders of political parties also resolved that truth and objectivity must form the basis of campaigns ahead of the referendum on the proposed new constitution.

The meeting that was convened by the President and Prime Minister Raila Odinga was also attended by Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and the leadership of 23 political parties.

During the meeting, the leaders also discussed the role political party leaders need to play to ensure that wananchi are well and accurately educated on the constitution in preparation for the referendum vote.

Agreeing that the proposed new constitution captures the hopes and aspirations of the Kenyan people, the leaders underlined the need for Kenyans to walk together for the sake of future generations.

The consultative forum took issue with those who were misrepresenting contents of the new constitution and committed the "Yes" side to being truthful during the civic education period and the campaigns ahead of the referendum.

The leaders agreed to encourage wananchi across the country to read the published proposed constitution, adding that they will ensure the new constitution is circulated in all parts of the country.

While appreciating the right of others to hold divergent views on the constitution, the leaders however resolved to mount a major civic education campaign around the country that is complimentary to the civic education by the Committee of Experts.

"It is vital that wananchi understand the contents of the proposed constitution to avoid being misinformed," the leaders of political parties said.

Noting that the country needs genuine change, the consultative forum agreed that the proposed Constitution, which has been debated for over 20 years, is a major step in bringing about important reforms across the country.

The forum cautioned against meddling by external forces who may not fully understand the realities and desires of the Kenyan society. In this regard, the leaders expressed the need for the Kenyan people to be allowed the freedom and space to debate and vote for the constitution.

The leaders, at the same time, resolved that the campaigns for "Yes" position will be done with respect and decorum, adding that leaders should not attack others for their stand but instead enlighten wananchi on their position based on the goodness of the constitution.

The leaders also passed a resolution that the new constitution was a project of the Kenyan people and should not be personalized or form the basis of campaigns for the 2012 elections.

The forum agreed to form a Political Parties Joint Secretariat to co-ordinate and oversee civic education and campaigns for the "Yes" position, with the first "Yes" public rally set for this Saturday at Uhuru Park , Nairobi .