News
Obama pledges funds for referendum
Posted Saturday, January 23 2010 at 21:00
In Summary
- US President phoned Kibaki and Raila to express fears on reform
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.
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Submitted by benkimaniPosted January 25, 2010 03:03 PM
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Submitted by rofi
If Obama cannot help Kenyans to remove these people from power, he should at least have insisted that they pay taxes first and foremost as reform number one. Otherwise, he should leave Kenyans alone because he is an American citizen and we don need to be patronised by no nobody, no sir! We is capable of thinkin' for ourselves.
Posted January 25, 2010 09:18 AM -
Submitted by wanyeri
When will our leaders understand there is no dignity in begging? If Kenya can finance our constitutional making process, like the Prime Minister says, let us do it;there is pride in feeling 'we did it' and pride in our abilities is something Kenyas need. Or did he just want us to know he talks to Obama? Come on! let's grow out of this pettiness.
Posted January 25, 2010 02:19 AM -
Submitted by bkigano
Unless this money does not have to be paid back, I say take it. Albeit, I just can't see how the U.S., currrently riddled with a historic recession, can afford to give out this kind of money freely, especially for an excerice which Kenyans can readily afford to foot the bill themselves. Be considerate and ask Obama to give the money to the Haitians instead.
Posted January 24, 2010 11:06 PM -
Submitted by wariahe63
Why doesn't Reneberger and his bosses force the Kenyan MPs(Kibaki and Raila)included to pay taxes as the first reform?Obama should help us to remove this govt.He should not give them any money because they will just loot it then Kenyans will be left paying the debt.
Posted January 24, 2010 10:37 PM
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Why should our prime minister politicise everything that he comes across. We just finished the politics of Mau,now we are entering the referendum politics, why Mr PM? Being the supervisor of the government business does not give you an automatic right to do their job.We expect such news from the American Ambassader or our beloved foreign affairs minister but not from you.I think you have a protocol syndrom mr PM.