YES IN TROUBLE

The race is on, the Finish Line is August 4 at the referendum, and both teams are putting on a mighty show. Not only that, each is also trying to eclipse the other through demonstration of might in the hope of standing on the platform of honour when the Interim Independent Electoral Commission announces the victor.

If this past weekend is anything to go by, referendum jitters have already set in, and both teams are leaving nothing to chance, including trying to cover as much ground as possible. It is like the replay of 2005 referendum footage, only that the main actors — President Kibaki and Prime minister Raila Odinga — are on the same side.
Higher Education minister William Ruto works up the crowd in ODM Chairman Henry Kosgey’s turf in his push for ‘No’ vote Sunday. [Photos: Kevin Tunoi & Govedi Asutsa]


The campaigns gathered momentum as Lands Minister James Orengo and Gichugu MP Martha Karua asked Higher Education Minister William Ruto to be truthful in his campaigns against the Proposed Constitution.

The ‘Yes’ team appears to have started with a misstep and could be going back to the drawing board. Meanwhile Ruto yesterday took the ‘No’ fight to Orange Democratic Movement’s Chairman Henry Kosgey’s home turf of Tinderet, just a day after retired President Moi was there with a similar message.

After a hugely successful Uhuru Park rally last weekend, ‘Yes’ campaign had been expected to head for Ruring’u Stadium in Nyeri mid-last week, then Machakos on Friday before heading to either Nakuru or Kisumu at the weekend.

Planned rally

Sources however revealed poor organisation saw the Nyeri meeting put off, while unresolved disagreements over booing of Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka at Uhuru Park by ODM supporters crippled the planned rally in Machakos on Friday.

To save face, sources in the ‘Yes’ revealed, the Kibaki-Raila axis settled for a hurriedly organised rally in Embakasi Constituency on Saturday.

The team also appeared to be still troubled by Kalonzo’s attack on Raila as the alleged mastermind of his booing. "The ‘Yes’ campaign has to get its act together before we can resume joint rallies. We are telling the Prime Minister if he wants ‘Yes’ to win, he must recognise the VP as a vital partner. Otherwise, mistreatment of the V-P at ‘Yes’ rallies sends a negative signal to his supporters. It makes our work difficult," said Mwingi South MP, Mr David Musila.

While the ‘Yes’ team was being taken to task, at Ruto’s rally, Kosgey who is the Industrialisation Minister came under attack from local civic leaders who boasted he was swimming against the tide.

Mr Ruto hit out at the ‘Yes’ camp for using Government resources in their campaigns. "Even after publishing a document full of errors, they are now forcing it on the people using public funds saying it is a Government project," he lamented.

Ruto who was accompanied by Ainamoi MP Benjamin Lang’at, AIC clerics and civic leaders vowed to work with the Church in defeating the Draft Constitution. He termed the provisions on land in the proposed law as defective and could create conflict in the country.

He said farmers in the province could not afford the taxes and premiums to be levied on land and immovable assets as proposed in the draft constitution. "Kosgey (Henry) and I can afford to pay the taxes. What about the poor farmers who cannot afford fertiliser?" he asked.

Ruto faulted the draft saying it allowed for the adoption of foreign treaties without involvement of Parliament. He described as dishonest MPs who presented amendments in Parliament and have now thrown their weight behind the draft constitution.

At the same time Kanu leaders led by former Nominated MP Ezekiel Barng’etuny launched a scathing attack on Raila and Rift Valley ODM ministers supporting the draft. They include Prof Helen Sambili, Dr Sally Kosgei and Mr Kosgey. Barng’etuny who spoke in Eldoret told off a group of Rift Valley MPs in the ‘Yes’ camp who claimed to have more political clout in the province than the ‘No’ campaigners.

"They are daydreaming. We challenge them to hold ‘Yes’ rallies on their own in Rift Valley and let us see if they command any following," said Barng’etuny. They claimed they were self-serving leaders who did not have the interest of their community at heart. "We know why they are in that camp (‘Yes’). They should not dare say they speak on our behalf as the Kalenjin community," added Barng’etuny.

The leaders also cautioned the PM against talking negatively about Moi who dismissed those claiming the ‘No’ team will isolate Rift Valley as ‘political novices’. Raila was quoted as saying at a function in Nairobi: "We do not want retired leaders scaring people with insinuations that the proposed law will bring bloodshed yet they failed to initiate law review during their tenures," Barng’etuny said Moi was in power for 24 years and there was never bloodshed. In Nairobi, Karua claimed Ruto was misleading people there would be another referendum in November if Kenyans reject the Draft on August 4. Speaking at a church service, she accused proponents of the ‘No’ campaign of misleading Kenyans.

"Only a liar can tell you that there will be another referendum in November. The August referendum is in the law and it took us quite some time to legislate this law," she said.

Claims on land

In Migori Lands Minister James Orengo led other leaders in attacking Ruto over what they said was misinformation over proposals in the new law. Accompanied by newly appointed Energy Assistant Minister Lang’at Magerer, Nominated MP Musa Sirma and Migori MP John Pesa, Orengo claimed the minister was misinterpreting the clause on land to dupe Kenyans into rejecting the document at the referendum.

"Ruto and his team have concentrated on misinforming Kenyans on the Proposed Constitution’s content. Be wary of such lies," said Orengo.

Sirma said: "Proponents of ‘No’ in Rift Valley are using their campaigns to undermine leaders in the ‘Yes’ camp." The Government was also criticised over assertions by Raila the proposed law was a Government project. MPs David Koech (Mosop) and Dr Julius Kones (Konoin) —called for sobriety during the campaigns. "We urge clerics to pray for the country and President Kibaki. As a President we expect him to handle the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ teams equally because we are all Kenyans regardless of which side wins," said Koech.

Meanwhile a delegation of bishops will be sent to Kalonzo to convince him to return to join the ‘No’ camp. Bishop Wilfred Lai of the Redeemed Gospel Church said this was necessary because of the hostility he was experiencing. "We will send a delegation of bishops to Musyoka to come back into our camp because this is where he belongs," said Lai at an inter-denominational prayer at Mombasa Municipal Stadium.

Those present included Bishop Lawrence Dena of the Anglican Church and Bishop Mark Kariuki (Deliverance) as well two MPs Kiema Kilonzo (Mutitu) and Elijah Lang’at (Emgwen)

As the referendum draws closer, the Kenya Police explained it requires about Sh2 billion to provide security for the forthcoming campaigns and D-day itself. This came out of a strategy meeting of commanders in Nairobi on Friday chaired by Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere.