'Yes' campaign hit by fresh intrigue

President Kibaki has moved to heal apparent rifts in the ‘Yes’ campaign as he seeks to ensure that the team wins the August 4 referendum with a landslide.

Sources in government said the President had directed senior Cabinet ministers who appear unenthusiastic about popularising the proposed constitution to show commitment to the push for the new laws.

The highlight of the efforts was a meeting at State House last week which was attended by Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, and Internal Security minister George Saitoti.

Green Alliance

At the meeting, the President is said to have questioned the formation of the Green Alliance, said to be associated with Mr Kenyatta, to coordinate parallel activities to those of the ‘Yes’ secretariat, which has representatives from PNU and ODM.

A source who attended the private meeting said the President asked Mr Kenyatta whether he had any problems with the ‘Yes’ campaign team and directed him to release any funds required for the constitution review process.

On Sunday, the President’s adviser on the constitution, Prof Kivutha Kibwana, told the Nation that Mr Kibaki wanted the proposed constitution to pass at all costs because it is closely linked with the legacy of his leadership, Vision 2030.

“To him, this constitution is very important because he believes that Vision 2030 cannot be achieved without this framework. The new constitution is the mother of all reforms in the country,” Prof Kibwana said.

During the State House meeting, the source, who cannot be named discussing secret government business, said the President directed Prof Saitoti to ensure that security is provided to both the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ teams to avert incidents such as the recent grenade attack on a prayer rally at Uhuru Park in Nairobi.

Pay the price

Mr Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga are reported to have charged the ‘Yes’ team to ensure that the document garners at least 80 per cent of the votes during the referendum to give it credibility. And on Sunday, Mr Odinga declared that he and the President were ready to pay any price, including going to a “lions’ den” to deliver a new constitution to Kenyans.

Last week, President Kibaki suspended Roads assistant minister Wilfred Machage after he was arraigned in court on hate speech charges. The Treasury has given the ‘Yes’ team no money and Mr Kenyatta, the Finance minister, skipped the team’s fundraiser on Friday during which Sh6 million was raised.

He had been listed as one of the key guests at the fundraiser presided over by Mr Odinga. He did not send a donation or apologies either, and when he missed the ‘Yes’ rallies in Machakos and Nakuru on Friday and Saturday, both presided over by Mr Kibaki, tongues got wagging.

However, his allies said Mr Kenyatta had not been consulted. “These people never consulted him to know his schedule,” said Mr Justin Muturi, Kanu organising secretary and Mr Kenyatta’s ally. But sources at the ‘Yes’ secretariat said the co-convenors of the fundraiser, Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi and his Medical Services counterpart Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o, and secretariat co-directors Dr Peter Kagwanja and Ms Janet Ong’era, had invited Mr Kenyatta.

“I remember the invitation cards had to be changed almost three times to ensure that nobody was left out. We even made sure that Uhuru’s card was similar in all aspects to that sent out to Musalia (Mudavadi) because they are both deputy prime ministers,” said a source who cannot be named because she is not authorised to speak on behalf of the ‘Yes’ secretariat.

Mr Kenyatta’s absence from the harambee is being linked to recent efforts to set up a parallel ‘Yes’ campaign. The Green Alliance, which was to be coordinated by Mandera Central MP Abdikadir Mohamed, has since merged with the ‘Yes’ secretariat.

The idea of forming the outfit is said to have been mooted by Mr Alfred Getonga, said to be an adviser to Mr Kenyatta. Mr Getonga once served as President Kibaki’s personal assistant. Contacted, Mr Getonga declined to comment on matters concerning Mr Kenyatta, saying he was not authorised to speak on his behalf.

“He is my personal friend, but I cannot comment on that. He has people who can speak on his behalf because they have official status,” he said. According to insiders, the outfit was to conduct a parallel ‘Yes’ campaign in the run-up to the referendum.

However, the idea was shunned by PNU’s other leading lights, including Mr Musyoka, Prof Saitoti, and Mr Murungi, who all feared that it would duplicate the functions of the ‘Yes’ secretariat.