leaders colour Nairobi green

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 1- President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Sunday led the Yes campaign team in a penultimate rally at Nairobi’s Uhuru Park urging Kenyans to come out in large number on August 4 and vote overwhelmingly for the proposed Constitution.

The president reiterated his government’s commitment to give Kenyans a new Constitution that they have desired for a long time and expressed confidence that the ‘green’ camp will carry the day.

“We are ready to fulfill this promise and all the other pledges that we have made but all we need right now is to for Kenyans to come out in large numbers on Wednesday and vote Yes,” the head of state said.

President Kibaki also took the opportunity to thank the thousands of people who had attended the rally as well as those in support of the draft document which he said had also served to bring Kenyans together.

“We used to be divided and in different groupings; but now we are together on one path as one people moving to one destination and I know that we will succeed,” he enthused.

On his part, Mr Odinga who yesterday joined the campaign trail after nearly four weeks of recuperating from a minor head surgery, thrilled the crowd with his characteristic anecdotes and football analogies and reinforced his team’s optimism of a win come Wednesday.

The Premier who was wearing a green suit and a green and white armband, similar to the one won by the captain of a football team thanked his colleagues who have hit the campaign trail in his absence to woo as many people to the ‘Green’ side as possible.

“Many of them came to visit me (when he was sick) and that coupled with your (people’s) prayers made me recover faster,” he said to a roaring applause.

“We are now entering into the final stretch and I urge every Kenyan in every province to come out in large numbers on August 4 and vote,” Mr Odinga said.

Doing so, he said, would usher in a new Kenya that will bring an end to the suffering and problems that afflict many citizens.

“This journey has seen many Kenyans lose their lives, others maimed, while many others became orphans. It is therefore incumbent upon us who area here today to carry out the process to its logical conclusion on Wednesday by voting resoundingly in support of the proposed draft,” he emphasised.

His statements were echoed by Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka who urged Kenyans to remain united even after the referendum.

“The need for change in this country is unstoppable. This is why I urge you to turn out in large numbers and vote for this document for the rebirth of this nation,’’ said Mr. Musyoka.

There were several legislators and cabinet ministers at the rally including Industrialisation Minister Henry Kosgei who called urged members of the Kalenjin community not to isolate themselves from the rest of the country and vote for the draft law.