We will humiliate you at ballot, 'No' team tells proponents

The 'No' team has promised to hand the 'Green' side a defeat, despite what they said was massive funding for 'Yes' team from the US.

At the five rallies the team held in Coast Province on Sunday, led by Higher Education Minister William Ruto, the leaders claimed Kenyan organisations were being bribed by the US Government to influence the referendum vote.

The climax of the rallies was at Tononoka Grounds in Mombasa, where a mammoth crowd turned up despite heavy downpour.

There was heavy police presence around the venue from as early as 8am to 6pm, when the rally ended.

At the rallies, Ruto said contentious issues in the Proposed Constitution were big enough for Kenyans to reject the whole draft.

He accused the ‘Yes’ side of cheating Kenyans that the law would be easily changed after it passes.

Lancaster constitution

"Writing a new constitution is not like writing a newspaper, which you can change easily when there are mistakes," he said.

Ruto addressed rallies in Hola in Tana North District, Garsen in Tana River District, Mpeketoni in Lamu West and Gongoni in Magarini District before finalising at the Tononoka rally.

"We wanted to have total devolution as we had in the original Lancaster constitution, where regions would get economic devolution, not the counties that are instead taking away Government services from wananchi," he said in Garsen town.

Ruto accused the US Government of dishing out Sh2 billion to several organisations to sway Kenyans to support the draft.

"We are talking about Sh2 billion given to some churches, trade unions and even pollsters to confuse Kenyans over the draft," Ruto said.

Speaking to reporters before addressing the rallies, Ruto said US Ambassador Michael Ranneberger was busy "bribing church leaders to change their stand. It is not only serious but also an insult to intelligence of Kenyans."

He tabled a list prepared by US Congressman Chris Smith, showing several religious groups, trade unions and a Kenyan pollster as beneficiaries.

USaid Inspector General Donald Gambatesa provided the report listing the organisations.

Televangelists at the rallies said there were clear signs that the ‘No’ side would win.

"The fact that hundreds of you have turned up despite the heavy rains is a clear sign of victory," said Wilfred Lai, who hosted the rally.

Televangelists Pius Muiru, Maina Ng’ang’a and MPs Victor Munyaka, Kiema Kilonzo and Margaret Wanjiru attended the rally.

Ruto took issue with pollsters, claiming they were rating their side lowly and giving the ‘Yes’ camp undue advantage.

"The opinion polls will not stop us from telling Kenyans to reject the draft constitution. Let’s meet at the ballot box on August 4," said Ruto.

The Eldoret North MP also faulted the Committee of Experts for allegedly omitting a clause in the Wako Draft that would have cleared ambiguity of same-sex marriages.

He said the Wako Draft clearly stated that a person should not marry another of the same sex.

"Why was that clause in the Wako Draft left out and yet it could have cleared any controversy? We urge Kenyans to reject the constitution and clear the controversy and ambiguity," Ruto said.

Political battle

Mr Kiema claimed the Provincial Administration would be phased out within five years of passing the Proposed Constitution.

"The Provincial Administration will be restructured within five years of passing the Proposed Constitution and the officers sent home. (Provincial Administration and Internal Security Minister) George Saitoti should tell the truth about the draft," Kiema said.

Ms Wanjiru claimed the draft allowed the country to make children of eight years whose parental background is unknown to become Kenyan citizens.

"Once this happens, Kenya will be taken over by foreigners because neighbouring countries facing political instability will export their children to Kenya," said the Starehe MP.

Church leaders present denied being funded by foreign organisations.

"We rely on goodwill of the faithful to fund our campaigns. Once we get foreign funding, we will make it public," Lai said.

Mr Muiru said it was unfortunate that the State chose to wage a political battle with the Church, as it would suffer a humiliating defeat.

"The State will suffer a defeat in this referendum because of failure to listen to the Church," he said.

— Story by Patrick Beja, Willis Oketch and Paul Gitau