Public likely to know voting symbols Monday

Voters could on Monday know what symbols they will use to identify the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ sides at the August 4 referendum.

Top officials of the Interim Independent Electoral Commission will meet Monday to select the symbols from a pile of suggestions submitted by the public.

“We have an interesting menu,” said IIEC chairman Ahmed Issack Hassan. He said electronic voter registration comes to an end on Friday this week.

Meanwhile, Higher Education minister William Ruto on Sunday said it was possible to have a new constitution this year even if Kenyans vote ‘No’ at the referendum.

Taking the ‘No’ campaign to the Seventh Day Adventist church, Mr Ruto said at a fund-raiser for the Adventist University of Africa in Ongata Rongai that he was confident Kenya would have a new constitution by the end of the year.

Kenya’s church leaders have rejected the proposed constitution, saying it provides a window for abortion if a mother’s life is in danger.

Mr Ruto used the same argument to sell his message. He said both the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ proponents agree there are flaws in the document and Kenyans should reject it.

The ‘Yes’ team led by President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga have said it will be possible to amend contentious issues after the constitution is passed.

“We will have a new constitution this year, that I promise, and the best way to bring us together is to vote ‘No’ in August and ‘Yes’ when we have a better document in November,” Mr Ruto told the audience, which included SDA world president Dr Jan Paulsen.

Meanwhile, Kanu secretary-general Nick Salat said on Sunday that the party has not taken a stand on the proposed constitution.

He said leaders were free to express their opinions in their individual capacities and these views must not be construed to be the party’s position.

In remarks apparently targeting party chairman Uhuru Kenyatta, who supports the proposed constitution, Mr Salat said he doubted Mr Kenyatta’s commitment in championing the interests of the party.