YES TEAM FIRM ON MONEY

The 'Yes' team remains firm over use of public money to fund its referendum campaign on the proposed Constitution and has vowed to request Treasury to release the cash.

The firm stand came as Ministry of Finance officials were grappling with the vote on which they would draw money to the 'Yes' campaign without upsetting the budget as passed by Parliament.

The vote would have been under the Justice Ministry, but it was not factored in the Budget.

Medical Services minister Anyang Nyong’o, a co-convener of the 'Yes' campaign team, said Friday the government will have failed if it does not finance them in their push to give Kenyans a new Constitution.

“The government will be irresponsible not to support the campaign to give Kenyans a new Constitution. Government money must be used and there is a vote but only the Finance minister can tell,” he said at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) where the 'Yes' team offices are housed.

Agenda 4

Prof Nyong’o, who was accompanied by members of the secretariat, said giving Kenyans a new Constitution was part of Agenda 4 and government had elected to support the proposed Constitution, which will be placed before voters on August 4 for their verdict.

That was the reason President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, the two men who signed the National Accord on February 28, 2008 to end months of violence, were leading the 'Yes' campaign.

“The government would have failed; the President would have failed; and the Prime Minister would have failed if they don’t deliver a new Constitution. This is a government project,” he said.

He was flanked by secretariat co-leaders Janet Ong’era and Peter Kagwanja, and members Jimmy Angwenyi, Kivutha Kibwana among others. The secretariat, which will be in charge of the 'Yes' team campaign program, was launched last week by Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

The bid by the 'Yes' team to use the taxpayer’s funds to finance their campaigns has triggered criticism from MPs opposed to the proposed Constitution and Narc Kenya.

MPs Charles Keter, Kiema Kilonzo, Cyrus Jirongo, Julius Kones and Benjamin Langat declared the plan an illegality that had not been approved by Parliament. They demanded a share of the money, should the government allocate itself funds.

Said Mr Kilonzo: “Agenda Four was not about giving Kenyans a flawed constitution... if this document belongs to Kenyans, why use taxpayer’s money to buy their support? Even those voting 'No’ are Kenyans.”

Demand share

Dr Kones said Parliament had not approved any funds for the campaigns and said they will also demand a share of the money.

“Parliament must approve the funding and, in any case, the money has to be shared between the two camps,” he said.

Narc Kenya chairperson Martha Karua has also faulted the government for using public funds to finance the 'Yes' campaign. She said it was illegal for the government to use taxpayers money to fund one side of the campaigns yet all Kenyans pay tax.

The money, she maintained, should instead be used to help the IDPs and relocate those displaced by floods.

The 'Yes' team holds its first joint rally in Kayole Saturday and it will be attended by President Kibaki, Mr Odinga and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka.

Prof Nyong’o said the Yes team will mount a “formidable” campaign to reach all Kenyans.

“We are not going to sit back and wait for the Committee of Experts to educate Kenyans on the new constitution when there are people out there misleading them,” he said.