President Kibaki took the 'Yes' campaign to Mwea, Mbeere and Embu in Eastern Province, as the 'No' side led by Higher Education Minister William Ruto covered Rift Valley Province.
Kibaki took the ‘Yes’ team to Mwea town, Kiritiri in Mbeere District, before closing the days campaign programme with the biggest rally of the day in Embu town.
The powerful team accompanying the President included Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Ministers Joe Nyagah (Cooperatives) and Amos Kimunya (Trade).
The ‘No’ team left little to chance, covering the breadth of the expansive Rift Valley Province in a record 10 hours.
The ‘No’ team flew from Nairobi to Molo in the morning, where they urged residents to reject the new law, sayng the land clause was a threat to stability in the Rift Valley.
They covered Nakuru, Njoro, Molo, Baringo, Marakwet and Keiyo before returning to Nairobi in the evening. Kibaki said it was a pity that some people would choose to be in the ‘No’ camp and "embarrass themselves" after leading the country.
Without mentioning names at Wang’uru Stadium in Kirinyaga South District where he started the campaign, he said the unnamed leader was subjecting himself to embarrassment by opposing the proposed law.
"Kuna wazee wengine wanazunguka huku wakikataa hii mambo na hao walishindwa kutupatia katiba mpya wakati walikuwa wakitawala. Wanafaa kwenda kupumzika. (There are those going round opposing this draft and yet they failed to give us one during their time of reign. They should take a rest)," he said.
Kibaki told the meetings he had gone round the country in the hunt for votes, and was convinced most Kenyans would vote ‘yes’ in the referendum.
"Lazima tuwaonee huruma sana wale bado hawajajiunga na hii ‘green’ yetu. Lakini pia tuendelee kuwaongelesha, (We pity those who have not yet joined our green camp, but we also continue speaking to them to convince them," he said at Siakago, where he wound up his campaign tour.
Speaking at Kihingo in Njoro, Ruto said communities in Rift Valley want to live in peace and avoid a recurrence of the ethnic clashes, which have been experienced in the area.
He said it was dangerous to vest land in ethnic communities and allow the National Land Commission to investigate historical land issues.
"We all want a new law, but our point of departure is that while we wanted amendments to be done before it is passed, they want the faulty sections to be rectified later," the minister said.
In Iten, Ruto dismissed reports of possible violence in the Rift Valley after the August 4 vote, describing as ‘prophets of doom’ those who had zoned the region into ‘hotspots’, and said the referendum would be peaceful.
The ‘Yes’ team was also in Rift Valley, where three cabinet ministers and two MPs took their campaign to Mogotio constituency, and urged residents not to listen to propaganda by the ‘No camp.
Women issues
Youth and Sports Minister Prof Helen Sambili hosted Gender Minister Esther Murugi, Development of Northern Kenya Minister Mohamed Elmi, Parliamentary Select Committee on the Constitution (PSC) Chairman Mohammed Abdikadir and Eldoret East MP Prof Margaret Kamar.
During the rally in Mogotio town, Sambili declared she supported the draft as it was good for Kenyans, and would not follow those opposing it blindly.
She said the proposed laws would ensure equal distribution of resources to fight poverty in marginalised areas. The Mogotio MP said women issues were well addressed in the draft and urged Kenyans to pass it.
"We are in Parliament and should there be issues that affect our people, we will strive to amend them but we have to pass it first," she said.
Abdikadir said issues on land, marriage and provincial administration were being misinterpreted.
He said the issue of land rates was not new, as the current constitution allows MPs to set the same. Singling out Ruto, he said the Eldoret North MP was opposing the draft, yet he had agreed to all the clauses at the PSC meeting in Naivasha.
Kamar cautioned Kenyans to ensure they read the draft and made informed decisions, so as not to be misled. "Kenyans should be careful not to be misled by their leaders who have selfish political interests. The constitution is about our future, not just 2012," she said.
Murugi, who is also Nyeri Town MP, said the proposed laws would not allow homosexuality and abortion as claimed by the church.
"We are women and we are the ones who will suffer if the law stops doctors from helping us when we need help. It is unfortunate that men are making the loudest noise," she said. She said vetting would be done before issuing of birth certificates. "There are about one million children under the age of eight who are orphans. It is possible to have a system to thoroughly vet them," she said.
— Reporting by Moses Njagih, Karanja Njoroge, Dedan Okanga, and Beatrice Obwocha
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