'GREEN ALLIANCE' HITS THE ROAD RUNNING

After weeks of criticism for appearing noncommittal in his support for the proposed constitution, deputy prime minister Uhuru Kenyatta hit the ground running with the “Green Alliance” over the weekend.

Mr Kenyatta boarded a green helicopter to Nyahururu, where he was the chief guest at the alliance’s first rally in the area. And he did not mince his words, calling for endorsement of the proposed law, which he termed “Kenyan made”.

The DPM said that there is no perfect constitution and there is always room for amendments to be carried out later.

Falsehoods

Mr Kenyatta, who is also the Finance minister, accused the No camp of peddling falsehoods about the proposed constitution.

“It is true that there are some issues in the law, and which Kenyans have pointed out, but this should not deter us from getting a new constitution. The opponents are using these contentious clauses to woo Kenyans to vote against it while they can be amended later,” he said during Saturday’s rally.

He noted the chapters on representation, devolution and land did not have any problem as claimed by the Red camp. “This is the best document that reflects the wishes of all Kenyans and it should not be dismissed,” he said.

Mr Kenyatta also said that the proposed law would not only give Kenyans equality but would also protect the rights of individuals.

He made the statement a day after the court threw out his application to have his name expunged from a report on the post-election violence.

The court ruled that public interest outweighs the rights of Mr Kenyatta as an individual. However, it also said that the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights should have sought Mr Kenyatta’s statement before mentioning him in the report.

Vulnerable

The “Green Alliance” was launched on Friday after some politicians allied to PNU, Kanu and ODM-Kenya decided to form a secretariat parallel to that of the coalition government.

The alliance is targeting areas that appear vulnerable to the No campaign. The MPs are financing the campaigns. On Friday, led by Mr Kenyatta and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, the alliance raised Sh1.2 million, which was used for the weekend rallies.

Speaking at the rally also addressed by Mr Kenyatta, an assistant minister has said that Central Province should not oppose the proposed constitution because locals have been at the forefront in the agitation for a new law.

Water assistant minister Mwangi Kiunjuri said many people from the province, among them Kenneth Matiba, Charles Rubia and Koigi Wamwere, suffered under the Kanu rule for calling for constitutional reforms.

“We are not going to beg you to support the draft constitution since the area has been behind calls for the new constitution since 1992,” he told people gathered at the Nyahururu stadium.

Mr Kiunjuri spoke as it was revealed that some leaders, including two local legislators, intended to launch the No crusade in the province this week. Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni warned the two MPs that they would “walk alone”.

Mr Kiunjuri and Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa called for action to be taken against MPs Wilfred Machage and Fred Kapondi for saying that people would be evicted from some areas if the new constitution was passed at referendum.