MACHAGE DEFIANT

The suspended Roads Assistant Minister Wilfred Machage is demanding that President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga resign if the ‘No’ vote carries the day in the August 4 referendum.

The Kuria MP said a rejection of the Proposed Constitution at the referendum would amount to a vote of no confidence on the two principals.

Speaking in the company of Higher Education Minister William Ruto and five other MPs in three separate rallies in the larger Nandi, Machage said it is wrong for the two principals to force people to adopt a divisive document.


Suspended Roads Assistant Minister Wilfred Machage addresses a ‘No’ rally at Kobujoi trading centre in Aldai constituency, Friday. [PHOTO: PETER OCHIENG’/STANDARD]

"Kibaki and Raila are thought to be wise old men but we wonder why they are forcing this faulty document on us that has the potential to cause chaos when they well know Kenyans fought because of them following the 2007 disputed presidential vote tally," he said.

He also criticised the US Ambassador Michael Ranneberger for allegedly interfering with his constitutional right of speech and association.

"I’m reporting Ranneberger to the United Nations for interfering with my constitutional right by demanding I be arrested for making my contribution in the constitutional making," he said.

He reiterated that he was not shaken by his suspension as Assistant Minister.

Ruto accused fellow Cabinet ministers from Rift Valley and MPs pushing for a ‘Yes’ vote at the referendum of doing so to protect their jobs.

He added: "When we pushed for a new constitution, we all agreed that the document would be pro-Amina, Wanjiku and Chekemboi yet the principals are now telling us that it is a Government document."