'YES' WOES

There is disquiet among ‘Yes’ MPs, especially because of perception President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga have reduced them to cheerleaders in their rallies.

Beneath the veneer of unified campaigns, there is unease among MPs, especially over fear of appearing to be antagonising the Church.

There are also those who are playing it safe by muting their ‘Yes’ stand, especially because they are not sure who would win.

There are also those who argue the Cabinet resolution to back the draft was coercive and stifling, and therefore have silently rebelled. There are also those who resent the tagging of the Proposed Constitution as a ‘government project’, because they feel it compromises its selling value.

To address the challenges facing the ‘Greens’, the ‘Yes’ Secretariat announced a fresh strategy to conduct campaigns ahead of the referendum vote on August 4. The Secretariat is expected to roll out a three-tier campaign schedules: constituencies, counties and national arenas.

But across the board there is also a feeling ‘Yes’ lacks good co-ordination and strategy – and point at advanced plans for western Kenya campaign circuit by the secretariat when at the same time President Kibaki and Raila have another engagement in Embu this weekend.

Then there are those like Gichugu MP Martha Karua who have chosen to support ‘Yes’ but away from the President’s Party of National Unity.

It’s these challenges in the ‘Yes’ camp that many of the MPs cite, when asked that, "Yes, we have a problem."

It is also for this reason that Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, whom President Kibaki directly asked if he had any reservations on the ‘Yes’ vote, will address central Kenya MPs today in Limuru.

"We will make a major statement on the need to support the Proposed Constitution as a block. Some of us have been accused of doing other things at night while supporting the document during the day," explained Kamukunji MP Simon Mbugua.

From complaints of being reduced to Kibaki-Raila cheerleaders to playing safe not to antagonise Church, ‘Green’ MPs claim all isn’t well

Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi and Mathira MP, Ephraim Maina, who is the chairman of Central Parliamentary Group, are co-ordinating the meeting. Some of the MPs we talked to readily accept the ‘Yes’ campaigns are yet to get a foothold. Livestock Assistant Minister Aden Duale, responded: "We are yet to make progress." He went on: "We are unable to move because of the coalition and succession politics. There is so much confusion resulting from distrust in the ‘Yes’ side."

There are those who argue the MPs have recoiled because they are sidelined at ‘Yes’ rallies. They complain the President, the PM, and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka overshadow them.

Government Chief Whip Jakoyo Midiwo admitted these concerns have been raised and there were plans to address them.

"It is pointless to drive from Nairobi to Mombasa to attend a rally only to be part of the crowd, without addressing wananchi," said Jakoyo. "Some leaders said the presence of the President and the Prime Minister is intimidating, given the tight security detail that accompany them," Jakoyo conceded.

Merely clap

Speaking about the confusion in ‘Yes’ camp, Duale said: "I do not want to go to a rally and merely clap and cheer other leaders. This must be addressed."

Duale warned opinion polls had shown ‘No’ was nibbling away ‘Yes’ ground. "We want Deputy Prime Ministers Uhuru Kenyatta, Musalia Mudavadi, George Saitoti and Mr Kalonzo to lead their own bids," Duale added.

Yatta MP Charles Kilonzo told The Standard MPs were not happy with how they are treated at the rallies, and that was why some of them stay away.

Kilonzo disclosed that, for instance, at the Machakos rally MPs were sidelined at the planning stage as the Provincial Administration took the lead. "We were told that the Provincial Administration would mobilise the people and that we had no role," he said.

Kilonzo claimed they were only brought on board when they threatened to boycott the meeting.

Another member from North Eastern Province, who did not wish to be named, said: "The ‘Yes’ Secretariat and team is disorganised ... when we look at our opponents, they seem to be well organised," he said.

"Most members despite being denied chance to address rallies convened by the two principals, they are also carried along like spectators which is not supposed to be the case," added the MP.

He further argued ‘Yes’ teams seems to have to wait for the two principals to organise rallies, lacks organisational strategies, and is let down by bureaucracy.

"If we continue like this I can tell you we might be in for a surprise since our opponents are moving and have few grumblers," he added.

The problems in ‘Yes’ are aggravated by the tag theirs is a ‘Government project’, which some argue made it look like the Proposed Constitution was being forced on Kenyans, instead of being marketed as the best option.

The Cabinet decision to support the draft was also interpreted to mean that ministers and assistant ministers were being forced to support the draft.

Also troubling the ‘Greens’ is the accusation by the ‘No’ camp the Government is using National Cohesion and Integration Commission to harass those opposed to the draft. Already, four MPs opposed to the new law have been charged in court with hate-speech charges.

The divide in Government over how the hate speech law is being applied is discernible from Information Minister Samuel Poghisio’s warning it should not be used to stifle free speech and applied selectively. In contrast, his PS, Bitange Ndemo, is happy that the commission was clamping down on those engaging in hate speech.

Another stumbling block for ‘Greens’ is the attempt by some leaders to ‘play it safe’ by keeping a distance between them and the top leaders. By doing so, they feel they would not be judged alongside the ‘Big Three’ if the draft were rejected.

There is also what is being referred to as ‘Church effect’. Some leaders are said to fear to be seen to take on the Church for fear this could alienate them from the faithful in their political base.

Coalition politics and the intrigues of succession are also muddling things for the Greens. While Kibaki is due to retire at the end of his term, many of the leaders in his side have an eye on 2012, and this comes into play during the campaigns.

Kangundo MP Johnstone Muthama, who is acting Chief Whip from the PNU side, said: "We should try as much as possible to ensure that every region is represented by one or two speakers during rallies."

Molo MP Joseph Kiuna argued: "When MPs speak, the people will take the message seriously."

"It is a waste of time for several MPs to follow the two principals wherever they go," said Mbugua. Ikolomani MP Bonny Khalwale, however, urged colleagues to stop whining about national rallies, and work for a new constitution.