IT'S OK

The Kenyan government will marshal resources to spearhead the Yes campaign as part of its promise of delivering a new constitution under Agenda Four of the national accord.

Prime minister Raila Odinga while issuing a statement in parliament on Wednesday said the executive was keen on implementing parliament's resolutions which unanimously endorsed the draft.

Odinga dismissed opponents of the draft who have decried the use of state resources in the campaigns.

The No team has been consistently hitting out at the Yes team saying it was using state resources in its campaigns and calling on the government to equally fund the No team.

However Odinga who was issuing an update on the road map to constitutional reforms in parliament expressed confidence that sufficient funds have been factored into this year's budget to foot the cost of the August 4 referendum.

Odinga said the government had put in place a full proof plan to ensure a resounding victory of at least 60% and above of the votes in the referendum.

Odinga exonerated the government from claims that it had failed to fund the Committee of Experts early enough to allow for civic education on the proposed constitution saying CoE's budget was never factored in the current budget and the government had to source for funds from other ministries.

However the activities of CoE have been factored in the 2010/2011 budget to avoid a recurrence of financial constraints.

Odinga was adamant that the government would continue to lead the Yes campaigns despite opposition from the No camp as it has the mandate of delivering a new constitution to Kenyans.

The PM issued a stern warning against politicians engaging in hate speech during the campaigns for the referendum saying the National Cohesion Commission has been directed to take action against such politicians.

On claims that the US government was pushing for a Yes vote during the referendum, Odinga said Kenya was a friend of the United States and the US was only pushing to see Kenya achieve reforms that would lead to good governance.