Moi answers Kibaki on Constitution

By JACOB NGE'TICH
Posted Wednesday, July 28 2010 at 14:52

Kenya's former president Daniel arap Moi has dismissed accusations that he failed to deliver on reforms during his time in power.

Mr Moi was responding to criticism from President Kibaki, who succeeded him as president, that he failed to give Kenyans a new constitution despite being in power for 24 years.

President Kibaki said, during a Yes rally in Embu, central Kenya on Tuesday, that Mr Moi was misleading Kenyans on the Proposed Constitution, which will be subjected to a referendum on August 4.

But in a swift rejoinder, the former president said President Kibaki had no right to criticise him.

"Kuna wengine waliahidi katiba kwa siku mia moja, lakini mpaka sasa bado hawajaitimiza (There are those who promised a new constitution within 100 days, but they are yet to deliver)." said Mr Moi during a No rally in Wote, Eastern Province on Wednesday.

"And they are quick to blame," he added.

The former president said he will continue to stick to issues in the Proposed Constitution as opposed to personalities since he was not interested in any gain or political seat.

On Tuesday, President Kibaki, without naming him, accused Mr Moi of misleading Kenyans and asked him to stop doing so: “Wazee wengine wanazunguka wakisema katiba ni mbaya (Some old men are moving around saying the constitution is bad).”

He said he felt sorry for Mr Moi, whom he said was embarrassing himself with these activities.

“Ni aibu kubwa kwa wazee kama hawa. Awache wasiwasi na aungane na sisi tupitishe katiba (It is a shame for such old men. He should stop panicking and join us so that we can pass the constitution),” he said.

The former president maintained that all he was interested in was a united Kenya, where all lived in peace.

Mr Moi said to make a good constitution there it was important to ensure that the needs of every Kenyan were safeguarded, failure to which the country will be divided

"Some are saying Moi was a dictator, but for me I was interested in peace and love among Kenyans and I strived to ensure that the country was united," he said.

The former president said constitution making was not like everyday politics saying it needed thorough consultations to ensure no one was left out of the process.

Mr Moi said during his tenure as president he ensured that Kenya was united and in peace unlike today where people are divided along tribal lines.

He told residents of Maukeni at Wote bus stage that he will not support a constitution that allows abortion, same sex marriages and disciplined forces to picket.

"How will the country respond to any security threat if the soldiers were picketing?" he posed.

He was referring to Article 26 (4) in the Proposed Constitution that empowers doctors to end a pregnancy only if it endangers the woman's life or she needs emergency treatment.

The document also provides that no Kenyan will be discriminated against on grounds of age, marital status, disability, sex, religion among others and does not refer to same sex marriages.

While the Proposed Constitution acknowledges that every Kenyan has the right to join association, protest, hold demonstrations and picket, it removes the right for the security agencies.

He further accused the Committee of Experts of introducing foreign ideologies to the proposed law.

MPs, in attendance and who addressed the No rally, condemned the accusation against Mr Moi terming it "short sighted and in bad taste".

Machakos Town MP Victor Munyaka, who fired the first salvo, said those accusing former President Moi should be aware that there was no vacuum in the constitution during Moi's tenure and none existed even now.

Mutito MP Kiema Kilonzo wondered why President Kibaki was swift to accuse Moi of campaigning against the document when he knew Moi had the right as a Kenyans to take any position.

"(US ambassador) Ranneberger has been going around the county campaigning for the constitution, why didn't Kibaki talk against him knowing well that he's a foreigner.

"We are eager to listen to the Whites and when it comes to Moi we tell him to shut up. Isn't that double standards?" posed Mr Kilonzo.

Eldama Ravine legislator Moses Lessonet claimed there were plans to rig the referendum and pointed to an opinion poll released by Internal Security said PS Security Kimemia showing that the Yes side will win with 65 per cent of the vote.

Makueni MP Peter Kiilu former Kibwezi legislator Kalembe Ndile were among the No proponents who attended the Wote rally.