Tuesday, June 15, 2010

'YES' DID IT

The ‘No’ team has accused those supporting the draft constitution of resorting to violence after they sensed defeat in the coming referendum.

On Monday, members termed the Sunday attack heinous, barbaric, regrettable act meant to intimidate their supporters.

Higher Education minister William Ruto said it was unfortunate there was no single policeman in such a huge gathering even after the convenors had notified the government of the meeting.

Mr Ruto also wondered why it took police over an hour to respond, given that Central police station was less than two kilometres away.

“Even if they were to walk to the scene of the explosion, it would not have taken them that time; this is a direct indication of the government’s intolerance to divergent views,” said Mr Ruto.

He said it took the efforts of Bishop Margaret Wanjiru to drive all the way to the station for them to visit the scene.

“The ‘Yes’ team thought Kenyans were not bright enough to scrutinise the document and identify the glaring anomalies,” said Mr Ruto.

“They are coming to the realisation that Kenyans have read the document and have realised that it was not the document that they desired,” said Mr Ruto.

The minister said the ‘Yes’ team had also resorted to using the National Cohesion and Integration Commission to intimidate their members by alleging that they were using hate speech every time they talked.

“I understand today, they have summoned me to their offices through the media. I will go there tomorrow and listen to their allegations against me.”

He warned the NCIC that they risked compromising their credibility in they allowed themselves to be used by the government to sanitise themselves while demonising the opposing side.

“I want to tell them if they start prosecuting people through the media, then they are doomed to fail in their otherwise noble job. I will tell them tomorrow that they need to be professional in their duty to the nation,” said Mr Ruto.

He urged the police to carry out investigations into the Uhuru Park incident and unearthed the truth.

He also called on the police to ask all those who were coming up with theories about the incident to record their statement at the police because they might be holding vital information.

And in a statement on behalf of the ‘No’ team that was read during a press conference at the Red Card Centre, Mutito MP Kiema Kilonzo took great exception to the statement by the Prime Minister that the government would investigate the explosion while at the same time seemingly exonerating the ‘Yes’ team even before the investigations begun.

“We in the ‘No’ team strongly believe there could be more of these orchestrated government assassination ploys,” he said.

Those present included the assistant cooperatives minister Lina Kilimo, and MPs Cryus Jirongo, Julius Kones, Fred Kapondi, Victor Munyaka, Joshua Kutuny, Sammy Mwaita and Charles Ketter.

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