Obama pledges funds for referendum

The United States has pledged financial support for the upcoming referendum on a new constitution, Prime Minister Raila Odinga announced on Saturday.

The pledge came through a telephone call from President Barack Obama to President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga earlier this week.

Mr Odinga said that both principals had assured Mr Obama that the country would achieve broad support for a new consensus.

“Early this week, US President Obama called President Kibaki and me and expressed fears that we would not have a new constitution. We both assured him that there was no doubt on our part that we will make it this time round in a peaceful way,” Mr Odinga told a political rally in Homa Bay.

It was not immediately clear how much financial support President Obama had pledged.

This week, the Interim Independent Electoral Commission announced that it would be seeking an estimated Sh10 billion to conduct a voter drive and the referendum. They have targeted a minimum of 15 million voters.

“The US is ready to fund our referendum, but that is not to say that, as a country, we are too broke to finance it. We have money ready for this important exercise because it is the only way the public can make their voices heard regarding what they want,” Mr Odinga said.

“An acceptable constitution will ensure that we do not go back to physical fighting,” he added.

And in Mwingi, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka urged Kenyans to support the work of the Naivasha Parliamentary Select Committee on the constitution which is consensus-driven because it will lead to an uncontested referendum.

“There are various contentious issues that the PSC is working on, and it is therefore important for Kenyans to give the team and Parliament time so they can make the necessary changes that will lead to the production of a good document,” Mr Musyoka said.

In Homa Bay, Lands minister James Orengo said citizens would have a greater say in the new constitution.

At his rally, Mr Odinga launched a countrywide drive to galvanise support for the ODM ahead of the 2012 General Election.

He said the move was aimed at reinforcing the party’s grassroots support ahead of the next elections, even as the hidden squabbles within the party at one point went physical between delegates who could not agree on who was to represent their constituencies.

“The basis of a party is the grassroots and the masses. As a party, we have realised that we must reinforce the foundation. Today we have begun a countrywide programme to meet grassroots leaders and iron out differences,” Mr Odinga said.

This round of activity comes in the wake of another strategy in which the PM was meeting community elders to boost his grassroots support.

Mr Odinga maintained that the party was stronger even in territories that were formerly not friendly.

“ODM is stronger than ever countrywide. And the party is very popular in Central Province; you will see the difference soon,” he said.

The PM spoke as he met delegates from 32 constituencies in Nyanza Province.

Meanwhile, former South Mugirango MP Omingo Magara, one of those perceived to be on Agriculture minister William Ruto’s side in a power contest against Mr Odinga, accused his detractors of painting him as an ODM traitor.

Speaking at the Homa Bay meeting, he said that criticism of the party was healthy.

“Let us say the truth, let us not be saying ‘yes sir’ when things are going wrong,” Mr Magara said.

Neither Mr Odinga nor other ODM officials referred to Mr Magara by name. Mr Odinga termed the nullification of Mr Magara’s election in a petition as a small blow to the party. He expressed confidence it would recover from it.

Mr Magara, who serves as the party’s treasurer, said he was not keen on a direct nomination as that would subvert the cause of democracy that the party was championing.

“I am not afraid of going through party primaries. I want to encourage as many aspirants as possible to come out to fight for the ticket. I will be back by the grace of God and the might of the people,” he said.

Mr Magara maintained that he would sail through if he runs on the party’s ticket.

In the past he has skipped functions of the PM, instead openly showing his discontent with the way things were being done. But yesterday he defended himself saying: ‘‘The party received the strongest indication yet that all is not well within the party when delegates pointed out to the Prime Minister that internal wrangles, skewed appointments and back stabbing were derailing the party’s national appeal.’’

ODM Nyanza coordinator Mrs Monica Amollo said the Prime Minister needed to rein in party branches and headquarters officials who were working against the party.

Gusii region party representative Chris Bichage said the unity of the party was paramount, and the party leader needed to address all pending issues if he hoped to maintain his and the party’s popularity.

“There are problems within the party, and we must go back to the drawing board, otherwise we are heading nowhere,” Mr Bichage said.

Recently a group of MPs spoke against an aide of Mr Odinga, Miguna Miguna, over claims he made against retired president Daniel arap Moi. At a meeting in Kipkelion, Mr Ruto said he had not forsaken the Prime Minister.

On the contrary, Mr Ruto said, it was Mr Odinga who had let people down who voted for him.

Mr Ruto said he fought for Mr Odinga’s rights following claims that votes had been stolen during the last elections and later took part in the Kofi Annan-led mediation talks where the post of PM was created.

He said it was Mr Odinga who had forsaken those who had supported him and cited the people of Mau as an example.

Mr Ruto said he was ready for a stab at the presidency and urged the people to vote for him.

The Eldoret North MP said 7,000 acres of land had been identified for settlement of Mau evictees. He was speaking at Kokwet Secondary School during a funds drive.

He said 1,000 tractors had been ordered by the government and would be distributed to all constituencies to help improve agricultural production. Mr Ruto was later joined by Mr Magarer Langat. Mr Langat, an ally of Mr Odinga, has in the past accused Mr Ruto of misleading the Kalenjin.

Mr Langat was shouted at during the funds drive. He never finished explaining himself when he said he was still consulting on the position to take on his support for Mr Ruto.

Reported by Daniel Otieno, Maurice Kaluoch, Benedict Tirop. Additional reporting by VPPS