Central leaders launch ‘Yes’ forum

Central Kenya leaders on Friday launched a forum led by deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta that will spearhead campaigns for the proposed constitution in the region.

The leaders also used a meeting at Limuru’s Jumuia Country Home to endorse the Finance minister as their de facto leader for the ‘Yes’ campaign in Central Kenya.

They also resolved to use the joint ODM-PNU secretariat led by President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga as the co-ordinating organ of the ‘Yes’ campaign.

The meeting was convened by Gema, religious leaders supporting the ‘Yes’ campaign and the Central Kenya Parliamentary Group.

The PNU wing of the joint ‘Yes’ secretariat was also involved at the meeting, which brought together over 1,000 delegates who included veteran politicians, sitting MPs, councillors and church leaders from the region.

Though the meeting was largely to forge unity among the Central Kenya communities ahead of the referendum, it was filled with undertones of the 2012 general elections.

Not only was Mr Kenyatta endorsed to lead the ‘Yes’ campaign but he was also given the task of uniting Central Kenya in future.

The closed door meeting was largely conducted in Kikuyu language but resolutions were read to the media in English by Retired Anglican Archbishop David Gitari and his Methodist counterpart Lawi Imathiu. The two also chaired the proceedings which could be heard faintly from outside the meeting tent.

“This meeting has resolved that we are to work to secure the interests of our people into the future,” Rev Imathiu read from the resolutions to what they called the Limuru Declaration.

Landslide

He added that they will mobilise people from the region to pass the proposed constitution by a landslide. The forum will also hold rallies in the region.

“We have declared to commit all resources available to ensure that the ‘Yes’ wins with a landslide,” Rev Imathiu said. Rev Gitari said that the meeting had resolved that the proposed constitution was beneficial for the central Kenya region.