Kenya Yes team launches multi-sectoral campaign

The Yes team has now launched yet another multi-pronged approach to counter what they call falsehoods being peddled by the NO camp in the run up to the August 4 referendum.

The caucus spearheaded by former Kimilili MP Dr Mukhisa Kituyi has hit the ground running and is set to roll out a string of press conferences to counter moves by the NO camp aimed that have discredited contents of the proposed constitution.

Kituyi and former ODM communications Chief Salim Lone said, whereas the proposed constitution has majority support, they are coming out to strengthen the communications strategy aimed at boosting numbers for the YES vote ahead of the August 4th referendum.

"We are coming in with this new approach to ensure that Kenyans who support the proposed constitution are knowledgeable on the issues as they vote," said Lone.

Speaking at a press conference that also launched the multi-sectoral Yes campaign strategic program Thursday, Kituyi said the group will facilitate key professionals from different backgrounds to address emerging issues on the proposed document as part of the civic education.

"We are bringing professionals from the various sectors to address issues including the contentious Kadhis courts, the quest for constitutional renewal," he said and added that professionals from the medical fraternity will address the issue of abortion.

"It does not matter how much the NO camp peddles lies, and they should be told that even if a lie is said many times it remains as such, a lie," said Kituyi.

The former legislator said the proposed document once passed will aid in ensuring equitable distribution of resources since most decisions will be taken at the county level as opposed to the current arrangement.

Kituyi said the establishment of the Revenue Commission will see to it that the revenue raised in the country is equitably distributed.

"The remunerations commission will put an end to the greed that has seen parliamentarians increase their salaries at a whim," he said and added that when he joined parliament, MPs' salaries were just Kshs 19,000 a month.

Today, the legislators take home over Kshs 1.2 million including allwances.

Meanwhile, Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo has called on Kenyans to maintain peace during and after the 4th August referendum.

Mutula assured the public that the government would guarantee the security of all Kenyans, warning that no acts of intimidation or hate speech would be tolerated.

He called on Kenyans to learn from the impact posed from 2008 post election violence and urged Kenyans to respect diversity.

Speaking at the start of a two-day Referendum Conference in Nairobi Thursday, the minister called on Kenyans to read the proposed law for themselves to avoid being misled on the document.

He also called on the electorate to turn out in large numbers to vote for the proposed constitution, saying the document would usher in the much need reforms in the country.

Mutula ruled out any postponement of the referendum as advocated by some of the opponents of the draft law.