'YES' TO NYERI

The Proponents of the Proposed Constitution head to President Kibaki’s backyard in Nyeri for a rally tomorrow as the ‘No’ side hits the road to Kajiado and Mumias today.

The ‘No’ camp’s major rally for the weekend will be held in Mombasa on Sunday before heading to Taveta and Voi on Monday and then sum up the rallies with one on Tuesday at Loitoktok.

The ‘Yes’ rally to be led by President Kibaki and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka at Ruringu Stadium will be the first of its kind to be held by the President in his Central Kenya region to drum up support for the document.

Unfortunately it will be held in the absence of Prime Minister Raila Odinga who has been attending almost all major rallies rooting for the new law. The PM is recuperating well at Nairobi Hospital.

As the President heads to his native region to convince his people to stand by him come August 4, the ‘Nos’ opted to divide itself into two fronts one headed by Higher Education Minister William Ruto and another by Information Minister Samuel Phogisio.

Mr Ruto and Special Programmes Minister Naomi Shaban are scheduled to lead a team in Kajiado and its environs today before heading to the coastal towns of Mazeras and Mtwapa tomorrow.

Poghisio team

Others to accompany Ruto include MPs Kiema Kilonzo and Mithika Linturi while Poghisio will team up with MPs Cyrus Jirongo, Linah Kilimo for the Western Kenya rallies.

Today the Poghiso team will be addressing rallies at Matungu and Mumias towns before moving to House Speaker Kenneth Marende’s home area of Emuhaya tomorrow and winding their tour in Teso on Sunday.

Besides Kalonzo, Deputy Prime Ministers Uhuru Kenyatta and Musalia Mudavadi, will accompany the President. Cabinet ministers and MPs in the ‘Yes’ team are also expected.

On Saturday, ‘Yes’ leaders from the Maasai community will converge in Kajiado Town in support of the draft.