NO SHOW

The No camp has failed to show up at a joint news conference with their Yes counterparts called to urge Kenyans to maintain peace during and after the referendum.

The press conference had been organised by the Ministry of Information at the Serena Hotel but politicians and Church leaders from No gave it a miss.

Information Permanent Secretary Bitange Ndemo said his minister, Samuel Poghisio, had confirmed his attendance but changed his mind at the last minute.

“Poghisio said he was on his way but I think he has gone and consulted and changed his mind, honourable Kiema also said he would come but consulted and said no,” the PS said.

But contacted, Mutito MP Kiema Kilonzo said they had refused to attend the press conference because the No team had its own press conference to appeal to Kenyans to vote peacefully at the Wednesday vote.

“We have had our own press conference where we have asked Kenyans to vote peacefully, we do not need the Yes secretariat to organise a press conference for us,” said the MP.

Mr Kilonzo said the No press conference was held at the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) offices and addressed by NCCK general secretary Canon Peter Karanja, his deputy Oliver Kisaka, Higher Education minister William Ruto, Igembe South MP Mithika Lintuli, Pastor Mark Kariuki and himself.

Speaking at the Serena press conference, the co-convenor of the Yes team Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o downplayed the rival team’s boycott of the function saying they could have been engaged elsewhere.

“Their absence can be explained by the law of scarcity, you know they have fewer MPs than us so that they cannot be everywhere,” said the Medical Services minister.

Prof Nyong’o, who was flanked by a director of the Yes secretariat Prof Peter Kagwanja said the Yes team would respect the verdict of Kenyans.

He also invited MPs in the No team to help push through legislation required to give force to the new constitution should the Yes team carry the day.