'Red' official protests against 'Yes' adverts

Opponents of the Proposed Constitution want media adverts by the ‘Yes’ side stopped.

‘No’ team Executive Director Tom Namwamba, on Sunday called Standard offices to say the adverts, which run on two main TV stations, were injurious to their crusade.

Dr Namwamba asked the Interim Independent Electoral Commission to stop the airing of the adverts. "The adverts are bordering on depicting our team leader William Ruto and the entire team negatively... Our supporters are getting angrier," he said.

Namwamba referred to the adverts as a deliberate campaign to confuse their supporters.

They include one where Mr Ruto appears to be contradicting himself on the position Kenyans should take on the Proposed Constitution.

In the advert, the Higher Education Minister roots for the new law, saying it is much better than the current one, but in the same clip, re-emerges criticising the document, saying some leaders speak one thing in Parliament and change positions once outside.

The adverts end with an incomplete sentence from Ruto, who wonders what spirit has possessed politicians. Another advert causing discomfort, Namwamba said, is one where Ruto comes on stage addressing ‘No’ supporters. The same advert has a massage calling on Kenyans to vote for the Proposed Constitution.

"That advert alone confuses audiences as they cannot tell if that ending massage is from Ruto," says Namwamba, who adds ‘Yes’ has sensed defeat.