Greens, Reds in last minute dash as D-Day nears

By Standard Team

This is it. With just four days left to rally voters to their cause, campaigns by the Green and Red sides of the referendum debate have hit a crescendo, as they battle towards the finish line.

No campaigns will be allowed on August 3, giving leaders on both sides just four days from tomorrow, to make their best pitch in the homestretch, as they dash from one rally to another, spending millions of shillings on fuel guzzlers, and hiring helicopters to woo dirt-poor Kenyans.

Some leaders addressed as many as six rallies yesterday.

President Kibaki did not address any rally yesterday, but at a meeting in Nairobi with UK Minister for Africa and Commonwealth Office Henry Bellingham, he said Kenyans were ready for the Proposed Constitution.

Exuding confidence, Kibaki said passing the Proposed Constitution would spur economic prosperity, and enhance the country’s international status. The Head of State is expected in Western Province today.

On the campaign trail, the de facto leader of the ‘Reds’, Higher Education Minister William Ruto, led in the number of rallies as he addressed six in towns spread over Rift Valley, and Nyanza provinces between morning and sunset yesterday. But Ruto and his team found Gusii Stadium locked, had to settle for a nearby market where they repeated their ‘No’ messages.

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka also camped in his lower Eastern home ground, which has turned into an attractive magnet for politicians hunting for votes, due to the large number of undecided voters.

Improve lives

The VP addressed rallies at Mutomo, Kitui Central, and Mwala, where he urged residents to vote for the proposed law. Two other ministers from the same region, Mutula Kilonzo (Justice) and Ngilu in the ‘Yes’ camp also pitched tent in their home regions, moving from village to village with the message that the proposed laws would improve their lives.

Retired President Moi was also on a campaign tour of the province, and told residents to reject the draft on August 4, adding it is bad for prosperity. "I am not interested in personalities. I am interested in issues and the content of this draft constitution. I am not interested also in seeking a position. I am interested in the welfare and unity of this nation. I am concerned with the future generations," said the former president.

In central Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta led four Cabinet ministers and two assistant ministers in campaigning for the Proposed Constitution.

Nairobi Metropolitan Minister Njeru Githae, in his characteristic humour, told women to deny their husbands sex if they failed to vote.

"If he would not have the purple mark on his finger as an indication he voted, deny him conjugal rights," Githae said. As the ‘Yes’ team’s ministers were asking central Kenya voters to come out in large numbers, Ruto was on a whirlwind tour of Rift Valley and southern Nyanza.

Underhand tactics

During his rally in Kisii’s Daraja Mbili market, Ruto said the ‘Reds’ were using underhand tactics to derail the ‘No’ campaign.

"That is why we are saying if given a chance, the so-called ‘reformists’ would be worse than the regimes of yesteryears," said Ruto. Information Minister Samuel Poghisio, and Kuria MP Wilfred Machage accompanied him at the heavily policed rally.

The minister, who flew from one rally to another in a helicopter, also questioned why the Government allowed the ‘Yes’ team to book major public grounds in Nairobi and other parts of the country to lock out the ‘Reds’ during the last two days of the official campaign.

"They claim that they are reform agenda proponents, but are not willing to listen to divergent views. They have a lopsided view of democracy," said Ruto.

Ruto also dismissed a promise by President Kibaki during rallies earlier in the week, that the number of counties would be increased from the proposed 47 if the new law were passed.

In Eastern Province, Kalonzo and Ngilu also used helicopters to cover several centres in Kitui, Machakos, Makueni and Yatta districts.

Kalonzo said that the devolution of government to the counties, and the allocation of 15 per cent of revenue to the units would spur growth and stop rural-urban migration. He said that the new law would improve governance. "The recall clause will make politics competitive" he said.

Mutula camped in Mbooni constituency were he urged his people to vote ‘Yes’ for the draft.

He campaigned in Katangini, Kalawa, Kyangondu, Ngoluni, Mbumbuni and Tawa markets.

In the Mt Kenya Region, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta led Cabinet ministers Joseph Nyagah, Kiraitu Murungi, Njeru Githae, Esther Murugi and Assistant Ministers Mwangi Kiunjuri and Kareke Mbiuki in calling on the residents to make sure that they vote ‘Yes’.