No’ teams up with Church

‘No’ team took Nakuru by storm as Church leaders returned to the campaign trail two weeks after their prayers at Nairobi’s Uhuru Park were rocked by as-yet-unexplained grenade explosions.

In a show of solidarity, former President Moi, who is also against some clauses in the Proposed Constitution, joined 10 televangelists at the historic grounds for a moment of prayer, reflection and search for accord among Christians.

Also present were 20 ‘No’ MPs led by Higher Education Minister William Ruto.

Security was tight, and at the beginning the crowd was apprehensive given the explosions that claimed seven lives at Nairobi’s Uhuru Park prayers.

Former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga, who has said he is in ‘Yes’ camp, made a surprise appearance at the meeting the preachers had described as solemn meeting to pray for the defeat of the proposed new laws.

Njenga, who was widely acknowledged by Bishop Margaret Wanjiru, told journalists after the meeting that he was there as Christian to pray.

"Do not speculate about my appearance. I am here only to pray," said Njenga who was seen chatting happily with the former President and other politicians in the VIP tent.

Placards waved

Njenga has been actively participating in ‘Yes’ rallies saying he backs the proposed laws.

Olympic Gold medalist Samuel Wanjiru also accompanied Njenga to the well-attended meeting.

Hundreds of Christians, donning red T-shirts and caps, waved red placards and blew whistles as speakers made their speeches.

The firmer Head of State expressed fears that the referendum could be rigged and told the ‘No’ campaigners to be vigilant.

He questioned the registration of prisoners at the behest of the courts as voters saying it could be used to rig the referendum.

"Why are they being registered now? How will people access prisons, which are restricted areas? The ‘No’ team should make sure they have agents in prison to guard against rigging," said Moi.

The former President said the ‘No’ team should have alerted polling agents because it had emerged the voter register includes names of dead people.

"There are 12 million registered voters but previously we had 14 million, which means that the tallying includes names of dead people," said Moi.

He claimed that millions of shillings have been brought into the country to ensure the Constitution was passed.

Moi told off critics who have been telling him not to speak on the constitution and promised to continue speaking his mind on issues affecting the country as along as he is alive.

The former President said the Committee of Experts did not consider the views of Kenyans while drafting the document.

"Those experts did not consider what Kenyans said they wanted included in the Constitution. They instead put their views that are currently causing problems," said Moi.

Economic implications

The former President said foreigners had interfered with the constitution-making process and that those listening to them were being fooled.

"Wewe ni mjinga kabisa unasikiza wazungu na kuweka mambo ambayo si ya Kiafrika kwa katiba. (Only the very foolish listen to foreigners who mislead you into putting into the Constitution things which are not African), he said.

Moi said that Proposed Constitution was bad and would divide Kenyans further along ethnic lines.

"A Constitution must unite the people and not divide them. This is a document for posterity and that is why it must be handled carefully," said Moi.

He faulted the creation of 47 counties as proposed in the draft saying the economic implications had not been considered.

The Church leaders restricted politicians from taking the microphone and only allowed Cabinet Ministers Samuel Poghisio and William Ruto to address the meeting.

Ruto said the Government should listen to the Church leaders and warned that a country, which ignores its religious leaders, is headed for trouble.

divisive referendum

The Minister reiterated his position that changes should be made to the Proposed Constitution to avoid subjecting the country to a divisive referendum.

"We should remove the ambiguities in the document so we can have a unifying Constitution," the Minister said.

Ruto said those claiming the ‘No’ side does not want a new constitution had missed the point.

"Those alleging that the choice is between the old and the Proposed Constitution are misleading Kenyans because we decided collectively that we are all going for a new Constitution," said Ruto.

He repeated his earlier claims that some politicians were supporting the referendum so that they can use it in the 2012 campaign.

"There are those people who think that passing the Proposed Constitution will give them a platform for 2012," alleged Ruto.

Poghisio petitioned for the Church to be given a hearing on constitutional issues and to be taken seriously.

"Ghana has achieved middle-income economy status because their leaders have stood with the Church and we are petitioning our Government to listen to the Church," he said.

The Church leaders vowed they will not be intimidated by the Government and vowed to continue opposing the document.

Bad governance

Bishop David Mureithi claimed that the Government had closed doors and accused politicians of abusing Church leaders.

"For the first time we have leaders who are abusing the Church leaders and arresting pastors for preaching on the streets. This is sign of bad governance."

Bishop Mark Kariuki said that by opposing the Constitution the clergy was not fighting the Government but was expressing its democratic right.

Kariuki cautioned that Church leaders will not be cowed and will continue agitating for rejection of the Proposed Constitution.

He said in 2005 Church leaders said No! to the Wako Draft and will reject the Proposed Constitution too as contentious clauses have been retained.

"The issues that led us to say No! in 2005 are the same ones making us, say No! to the current document," he said.

He warned that the Church would ask followers to boycott media houses that are not supporting their cause.

"We will ask our people not to buy the newspapers and boycott all media houses which are hostile to the position taken by the Church,’’ he declared.

Bishop Francis Musili said the Government had opened another battlefront following Parliament’s passage of a Bill legalising chang’aa.