Sramble for Votes

The Matatu Welfare Association threw its weight behind the proposed constitution and declared they will push support for Yes to more than 80 per cent in the next two weeks.

At the same time, the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU)said it is sure of delivering at least 1.5 million votes to Yes to ensure the proposed constitution sails through on the fourth of August .

The two organizations declared support for the proposed constitution when they separately visited Prime Minister Raila Odinga to wish him quick recovery.

”We have no option but to back the proposed constitution because the Prime Minister has asked us to do so and we know he is a friend of our organization,” Mr Sammy Gitau Muhu, the secretary general of the Matatu Welfare Association said.

The chairman of the association Mr Dickson Mbugua said the organization will meet tomorrow and formally make its position known.

He said MWA will take “a position that is beneficial to the country.”
Mr Samson Wainaina, the chairman of the Matatu Drivers and Conductors Welfare Association promised that his members will cause “a huge difference” in the next few days.
The PM assured the associations that the proposed constitution had provisions that could streamline the mess dogging the public transport industry.

The PM said some of the issues pitting the matatu industry against the police force will be sorted out amicably with the coming of a new constitution.

He said the government planned to enact at least 73 legislations to anchor the new laws during the post referendum period saying the new legislation would transform key institutions in the country.

Odinga who has in recent times restored harmony whenever relation between the police and the operators turned frosty expressed optimism that the envisaged reforms could restore sanity and order in the chaotic sector.

He directed the Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere to ensure that traffic police adhered to the rules and conduct themselves in a manner that does not undermine the government’s commitment to the rule of law.
Specifically, the PM said police have no legal authority to remove number plates of public service vehicles saying it amounted to harassment.
“I want the commissioner to ensure that officers operate within the law and stop victimizing the operators on tramped up charges” the PM said.

He said most of the concerns the operators raised including claims of graft and harassment while in the hands of traffic police officers may soon become history since the projected governance structure in the new order were tailored to address such vices.

“We are working on the police reforms. But what we are doing now are just stop-gap measures. Real reforms will begin with the coming of a new constitution. So if you want to streamline the sector and have a good relationship with the police force, support this proposed constitution and let it become law, then we will begin to get to the roots of these problems,” the PM said.
COTU Secretary general Francis Atwoli said the giant workers’ body had just concluded a countrywide civic education campaign to tip workers of the need to seize the historical moment to realize the long awaited constitutional dispensation.

He said the workers’ union was keen to oversee the implementation of items under the Agenda Four of the National Accord for posterity of the nation.

The worker’s body also registered their disapproval to recent push to increase perks for Members of Parliament but the Premier promised that the matter may soon be settled amicably for the good of the nation.

Odinga told the workers representatives to uphold the prevailing industrial peace in the country to usher room for economic growth towards the realization of the Kenyan dream.

He censored those pushing for the rejections of the proposed constitution arguing that majority of the crusaders were responsible for the rot afflicting the country to date.
“This country would have been much ahead today had we taken the right path. But even today, the people responsible for our backsliding are still ganging up to fight the new constitution. I trust that we will shame them at the ballot,” he said.