Will Kibaki foray change Rift fortunes?

President Kibaki stormed a region perceived to be against the Proposed Constitution Friday, and wasted no time in warning of action against 'those causing fear among wananchi'.

The President, whose campaigns have hitherto excluded the North Rift — home of Higher Education Minister William Ruto — an area perceived to be the fulcrum of opposition to the draft constitution, was received at a well-attended rally at 64 Stadium. However, even before the dust could settle, analysts were mulling over what impact this would have on the region.

This happened even as a new opinion poll projected a majority win for the ‘Yes’ side in the August 4 referendum.

The survey, by pollster Strategic Research, indicated that if the plebiscite were held today, 62 per cent of registered voters would vote for the Proposed Constitution against 20 per cent for the ‘No’ side. A significant number —18 per cent — are undecided.

Last month, another pollster, Synovate Research, indicated that 57 per cent of voters preferred ‘Yes’ while 20 per cent were against and another 19 per cent were yet to make up their minds.

Yesterday, President Kibaki — impressed by the huge turnout at the historic 64 Stadium — remarked rather wryly: "When I sleep today, I will sleep with a lot of happiness".

This joy aside, a visibly angry President put on notice those perceived to be dividing Kenyans, in apparent reference to hate leaflets being circulated in the region warning some communities of eviction should the ‘Yes’ side win.

"Do not intimidate your fellow Kenyan just because he lives among you. Every Kenyan has a right to live anywhere in Kenya," he said.

Kibaki was accompanied by 24 MPs in his stable and those allied to Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Raila, who had been expected at the rally, did not attend, with Medical Services Minister Anyang’ Nyong’o conveying his apologies.

The rally, which was skipped by most Rift Valley MPs, saw most speakers asking the President to decisively deal with ministers in the ‘No’ camp.

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka expressed consternation that Ruto was opposing a document that he helped broker, and referred to the Naivasha talks where Ruto is said to have unlocked the impasse.

"We had concluded everything except the top governance system. But Ruto gave us a proposal that resulted in the Presidential System of Governance that became the deal breaker (sic)," he said.

Kalonzo said after Naivasha, he was surprised when Ruto started opposing the draft constitution. Mr George Khaniri, an Assistant Minister for Information and Communications, was most direct, asking that all ministers in the opposing ‘No’ side be stripped of their portfolios come August 4.

There are only three ministers in the ‘No’ camp — Poghisio, Ruto and Special Programmes Minister Naomi Shaaban. Only nine out of 49 Rift Valley MPs accompanied the President. They included Ministers Henry Kosgey, Sally Kosgei, Franklin Bett, Hellen Sambili, John Munyes, Magerer Lang’at, Beatrice Kones, Joyce Laboso and Asman Kamama. Kosgey, the Industrialisation minister, led the MPs in declaring that they would stand firm in support of the draft constitution and would not be intimidated by the ‘No’ camp.

Bett, his Roads counterpart, said they were on the ‘Yes’ side on principle and because the Proposed Constitution portended good future for the country.