Organised 'No' team kept State on its toes

Even before officially launching the ‘Red Card Centre’ in early June to co-ordinate its anti-draft campaigns, the ‘No’ camp has been comparatively more organised in its crusade to floor the Proposed Constitution.

And as the referendum campaign hits the homestretch, the team has sustained its tempo.

When the ‘Reds’ hit the ground and went on to set the agenda and pace, its campaign revolved around land, abortion, and Kadhi courts clauses in the draft.

During the Red Card Centre launch last month, the scope expanded to a nine-point campaign platform reached through the expertise of Tom Namwamba, a university lecturer who heads the secretariat.

Namwamba, in an interview with The Standard on Sunday, said the ‘No’ team would not engage in propaganda but would ensure the referendum is free and fair.

"It is the ‘Yes’ side using empty, personalised and abusive propaganda to hoodwink Kenyans to vote ‘Yes’ and that is wrong," he said.

He says both the ‘Reds’ and ‘Greens’ agree the draft is faulty but only differ on the timeframe for amendments.

"They have locked us out of major Nairobi venues and are using fabricated and manipulated statistics to try and win, but the fundamental issues we have so far raised remain," he said.

Namwamba said the ‘No’ camp would have three rallies in Nairobi on Sunday, and six others around the country on Monday.

He said there would be five agents in each of the polling stations, and a parallel tallying centre at the secretariat.

"We have confidence in the Interim Independent Electoral Commission, but we appeal to it to resist any pressure from the Government that may see it being pushed to negate principles of fairness," he noted.

While launching the campaign Secretariat, Higher Education Minister, William Ruto, Special Programme Minister, Naomi Shaban, and Information Minister, Samuel Poghisio, promised meaningful change.

"It is a contest between those who want to put meaning to change and those who want change because it is fashionable," Ruto said.

Joint rallies between ‘No’ MPs and Church leaders became common as the two harmonised their campaigns for effectiveness.

Apart from ministers in the ‘No’ camp, other key leaders opposed to the document are former President Moi, Kanu National Vice-Chairman, Gideon Moi, and Secretary General Nick Salat.

And as campaigns got more vicious, the ‘No’ camp identified more arsenals against the draft. These include clauses on dual citizenship, same-sex marriages, ancestral land question, land rates, counties, and foreign treaties.

The ‘No’ camp leaders have on several occasions termed the provisions as defective and could create conflict.

Lately, they have been capitalising on the use of civil servants and public resources by the ‘Yes’ camp to convince voters the Government is not ready for change.

"Even after publishing an erroneous document, they are now forcing it on the people using public funds," said Ruto.

Claims of foreign funds, especially from the US, being channelled towards referendum campaigns have also been fodder for the ‘No’ camp.

The ‘No’ camp has repeatedly alleged the Proposed Constitution would breed animosity between Christians and Muslims due to the inclusion of Kadhi courts.

Some of the leaders in the camp such as suspended Assistant Minister Wilfred Machage have claimed President Kibaki could be taken to the International Criminal Court at The Hague by November as the Proposed Constitution strips him of immunity.

The ‘Reds’ have also claimed if the Proposed Constitution is rejected on Wednesday, amendments can be made to enable the country go to another referendum by before Christmas.

And to cap it all, some in the ‘No’ camp have alleged hypocrisy by some ‘Yes’ leaders who they say are sympathetic to the Reds, which has earned them the nickname ‘water melons’.

For example, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka has been forced to set the record straight after persistent claims he is a ‘Reds’ sympathiser.