'No' leaders face of Kenya's past, say rivals

The Yes campaign has said leaders in the No camp are representative of Kenya’s past that the Proposed Constitution seeks to break from.

The team said that the No side was made up of some individuals who have previously blocked the country's quest for a new constitution.

"(Former) President Moi and Hon William Ruto, during their very long rule, fought against a new constitution and continue to do so now. The reason is simple – they are for the current status quo, in which their vast financial interests are well protected,” said a co-convenor of the Yes campaign Anyang' Nyong'o at the Stanley Hotel, Nairobi on Wednesday.

“Realising that Kenyans have seen through these tactics, they have now embarked on a desperate attempt to deflect attention from issues in the constitution through virulent and irrelevant campaigns,” he said.

Joke of the Century

The other 'Yes' co-convenor, Mr Kiraitu Murungi asked Kenyans to ignore the reasons advanced by the 'No' campaign for opposing the Proposed Constitution. He termed Mr Moi’s recent comments about land grabbing as the “joke of the 21st century”.

“Do you believe that Mr Moi is in 'No' because of an issue like abortion? He would have removed it from the penal code where the provisions are the same,” Mr Murungi said.

The 'Yes' team added that the churches were opposed to the Proposed Constitution because it requires everybody to pay taxes.

Prof Nyong'o and Mr Murungi, asked the public to avoid being dragged to a debate of “emotional issues” on abortion and kadhi courts as being propagated by their opponents.

“In fact the issues are not as divisive as they sound once the facts are known. They are subject to interpretation which the courts can determine once the constitution is in place,” Prof Nyong'o said.

Reading from a statement co-signed with Mr Murungi, the Medical Services minister said that right from the start of the campaigns on the Proposed Constitution, the 'No' leadership “has relied on Kanu-era tricks”.

The two 'Yes' campaign leaders spoke during a Press conference to drum up support for the Proposed Constitution. The 'Yes' team has lined up a series of such briefings as a way of informing Kenyans on their campaigns.

The Green camp is also promoting the gains in the Proposed Constitution as the referendum campaigns hot up. On Wednesday, they enumerated the Public Service, Public Finance and Bill of Rights as key areas that Kenyans should look up to for benefits.

“Kenyans will benefit materially in terms of better health care, jobs, education among other issues. And they will live in a more harmonious nation built on equity and national inclusiveness, giving the people's direct control over all the important decisions of their communities that they have hungered for,” Prof Nyongo said.

The two also called on the 'Yes' supporters to be tolerant of the 'No' crusaders after a rival group was confronted in Kitui on Tuesday.

They, however, urged the No team to avoid making statements that may ignite incitement among Kenyans.