SUSPEND CAMPAIGNS

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission on Monday wrote to President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga urging them to suspend all campaigns until July 13.

The cohesion team also announced that it had presented hate speech evidence against six MPs including a Cabinet minister and an assistant minister to the Criminal Investigations Department.

NCIC chairman Dr Mzalendo Kibunja named Higher Education Minister William Ruto, Assistant Minister Wilfred Machage and MPs Fred Kapondi, Dr Julius Kones, Mohammed Sheikh Dor and Hoshua Kutuny as persons they had adverse evidence against.

Also on the list is a political activist by the name Christine Nyangitha.

“We have worked closely with the police in the investigations. Based on the substantial evidence we have in our procession we have issued Cessation Notices to the said persons and in addition requested the security forces to investigate with a view to prosecute them accordingly,” Dr Kibunja said.

He also said that the list he had read was not exhaustive adding that they would continue monitoring hate speech and incitement from both the 'Yes' and 'No' camps.

The development came just a day after five people lost their lives and scores of others injured during Church prayer meeting that had turned into a 'No' rally at Uhuru Park on Sunday. The tragedy was the result of a stampede that followed two explosions that are still being investigated.


Dr Kibunja said that it is for this reason that they had written to the two principals to suspend the rallies until the official campaign period kicks off. He added that the law governing the review process should be enforced urgently and fully.

On May 19, the Interim Independent Electoral Commission announced that the official campaign period for the referendum would start on July 13 and end on August 2 – two days before the voting.

“We urge you (President Kibaki and Mr Odinga) to suspend all 'No' and 'Yes' campaign rallies until the official campaign period is announced by the relevant body,” Dr Kibunja read from the letter to the two principals.

Leaders from the 'No' camp in particular Mr Kapondi and Dr Machage have come under intense criticism over remarks made during the 'No' secretariat launch last week.

The two had warned of eviction of some communities from Rift Valley, Nairobi, Western and Nyanza, during the Tuesday function.

“We will not accept to suffer while people sit on our land,” Mr Kapondi said and named Bungoma and Trans Nzoia as belonging to his Sabaot community.

Mr Kapondi said the recent conflict in Mt Elgon was because of land and that “we are telling Trans Nzoia residents they will have to pack their rags and go including those in Bungoma as the constitution will recognise us.”

Dr Machage, the Kuria MP, said the Kikuyu would be moved from Rift Valley if the proposed constitution was passed. He added that Nairobi would also return to the Maasai while Luos would have to leave Kuria.

“The (proposed) constitution will give us powers to forcibly remove them (Luos),” the Roads assistant minister said, adding the constitution was supposed to bring peace and harmony and not chaos.

The proposed law, however, does not give any powers to communities or individuals to evict others from their land.

On Monday, the Yes campaign national team leader Kiraitu Murungi said that their side was concerned of continued negative utterances from their opponents.

And in a statement signed by him and the 'Yes' national chief agent, Prof Anyang' Nyongo, the 'Yes' team asked security agents to quickly investigate the Sunday explosions at Uhuru park.

“We urge the government to leave no stone unturned and get into the root of this matter. The 'Yes' team wishes to urge those opposed to the passing of the new constitution to concentrate on real issues,” Mr Murungi read from the statement.