Ruto vows to shoot down draft

By Peter Mutai and Vincent Mabatuk

The ‘No’ team took its campaign to Kapkatet in Bureti District where a declaration to reject the draft was endorsed.

Twenty-one MPs led by Higher Education Minister William Ruto said the declaration — at the historic Kapkatet grounds — was binding on the Kalenjin.

The community has in the past used the grounds to make major political pronouncements.

It is in the same grounds that founding President Jomo Kenyatta was given blessings to lead the country in 1963.

In their onslaught in the South Rift yesterday, the ‘No’ team dismissed the recent opinion polls claiming they had been manipulated.

Said Ruto: "I want to challenge the pollster that they are in the list of associations that are being paid using US dollars to manipulate the opinion polls to facilitate rigging of the referendum," Ruto said.

He claimed those in the ‘Yes’ were using bribery and intimidation to push for the adoption of the Proposed Constitution, which he said would divide Kenyans.

The Eldoret North MP said the country was stable, and hit out at some leaders "propagating falsehoods" that there was instability in some parts of the Rift Valley Province.

Belgut MP Charles Keter warned those in the ‘Yes’ team against rigging, and called for fairness.

Information Minister Samuel Pogisho said they would not relent in their campaigns against the draft laws, saying no amount of intimidation and harassment would make them abandon their campaigns.

"We have moved round the country and people are in agreement with us that the draft constitution should be rejected at the referendum to allow for room to amend contentious issues," he said.

Ecstatic crowds thronged the historic grounds where they gave the ‘No’ team a rousing reception.

The Red supporters came from as far as Kuresoi, Kipkelion, Trans Mara, Belgut, Ainamoi, Sotik, Bomet, and Narok South constituencies.

The ‘No’ leaders included Assistant ministers Jebii Kilimo and MP Jackson Kiptanui.

Others were MPs Charles Keter, Lucas Chepkitony, Zakayo Cheruiyot, Elijah Lagat, Peris Simam, Boaz Kaino, Julius Kones, Isaac Ruto, Cyrus Jirongo, Joshua Kutuny, Benjamin Langat, David Koech, Fred Kapondi and Mithika Linturi.

Also present were Kanu National Vice-Chairman Gideon Moi and the party Secretary-General Nick Salat, Kalenjin Council of Elders Vice-Chairman, Josiah Sang, a host of former MPs and church leaders led by Africa Gospel Church assistant Bishop Paul Leleito.

During the rally, members of the Kipsigis community resolved to reject the Proposed Constitution at the August 4 referendum.

Earlier, Ruto who landed in Kericho town in a chopper led more than 10 MPs in a procession in Kericho town and addressed supporters before travelling to Kapkatet, 40km away, in a convoy of more than 100 vehicles escorted by motorcycles.

Former Baringo Central MP Gideon Moi said the chapter on land on the Proposed Constitution would open a Pandora’s box on historical land injustices, as it would make people claim their ancestral land.