Raila rallies Coast to say ‘Yes’

Prime Minister Raila Odinga stepped up the quest for a new constitution in a whirlwind tour of Coast Province during which he drummed up support for a “Yes” vote in the coming referendum.

On the tour that began on Thursday, the Prime Minister and his entourage of ministers, assistant ministers, MPs and other political leaders traversed eight districts in the Coast to campaign for the constitution and inspect development projects.

On Saturday, the team visited Kinango, Msambweni and Kwale districts and said the time had come for Kenyans to get a new constitution after a 20 years of trying.

Before that, the PM was in Taveta, Voi, Wundanyi and Mwatate.

He laid foundation stones for a number of projects being undertaken by the government in the areas and opened completed ones, among them the Taveta Border Point Immigration Office.

But it was during the public rallies and leaders’ meeting that the Raila-led team made a strong pitch for the new constitution.

On Sunday, the stage is set for a declaration on the constitution with a public rally at Khadija Grounds in Kisauni. The PM and his team are expected to take the “Yes” message to the people of Mombasa.

Set mood

Medical Services minister Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o set the mood for Sunday’s rally when he said in Voi that a declaration in support of the new constitution would be made in Mombasa.

The leaders also talked at length about pertinent issues – kadhis’ courts, land, devolution and abortion – and pulled no punches in their criticism of those agitating for a “No” vote in the referendum.

The kadhis’ courts and the abortion clauses have been the main cause of opposition from church leaders, while a section of political leaders around Agriculture minister William Ruto have been resolute in their opposition for the draft, especially on the basis of land rights and devolution of resources.

On Saturday, Mr Odinga said only four of the 263 chapters in the draft were perceived to be contentious and should not be used to derail the march to a new constitutional order.

He said devolution, abortion and land had been adequately explained in the draft and that the kadhis’ courts do not affect Christians.

He drew the attention of local residents to provisions in the draft creating counties, saying Kenyans stood to benefit more as funds for development of their respective areas would be channelled directly to them through the counties.

Lands minister James Orengo assured the Coast people that the draft offers a solution to the decades-old land problem. He said it has provisions allowing the government to repossess idle land which it can then allocate to the landless.

Many speakers at the rallies attacked those opposed to the draft on the grounds of its provisions on land, saying they were out to protect their interests.