'NO' IGNORANT

NAIROBI, Kenya, June 6- A section of Civil Society Organisations have claimed that Kenyans who are opposed to the proposed Constitution are doing so because they are ignorant of the contents of the proposed law.

The National Civil Society Congress President Morris Odhiambo said on Sunday that they were confident that a lot more Kenyans would support the Constitution beyond the 57 percent indicated by opinion polls.

“We take this as a challenge and we are very serious. We are working on the ground making sure that Kenyans understand the draft Constitution and all the undecided votes which stand at 20 percent according to the opinion polls then will go to the Yes side,” he said.

Addressing a press conference, Reverend Timothy Njoya said it was important to take the opinion polls seriously because they indicated what was on the ground.

He accused the No campaigners of misleading Kenyans on the contents of the proposed new law.

“As I monitor from the ground I see that the forces of disinformation seem to have indoctrinated and brainwashed people that there is a clause saying abortion is permitted and I think our people (Yes camp) have not been able to go to the field and tell them what is actually written,” Rev. Njoya said.

“And these people (No campaigners) are saying they are pro- life while the document they are opposed to (proposed law) from the very first chapter to the last talks about Kenya being for the first time not pro-property but being about life,” he said.

At the same time, the civil society groups called on former President Daniel arap Moi to keep off commenting on the proposed Constitution and said he had no ethical influence.

Citizens Coalition for Constitutional Culture Executive Director Paddy Onyango accused the former President of denying Kenyans a new Constitution during his 24 year rule.

“Citizen Moi has no moral authority to lecture Kenyans on the new Constitution. While we don’t begrudge his right to express himself freely, his history of misrule does not qualify him to lecture Kenyans on what makes a good or bad Constitution,” Mr Onyango said.

“Moi and Moists have rubbished, opposed and sabotaged the quest for a democratic Constitution all the way as Kenyans demanded for it,” he said.

Former Legislator Mwandawiro Mghanga claimed the former President was opposed to the new Constitution because of the property he illegally acquired during his tenure.

“When they were in power they used to oppress people but now there is democracy and they can also give their views. But we want Daniel arap Moi (former President) to first apologise to Kenyans for his misrule and oppression,” he said.