Kalonzo silent No supporter, claims Ruto

Politicians opposed to the proposed constitution have insisted that most of their rivals in the Yes camp are silently backing its rejection at the referendum.

Higher Education minister William Ruto, who led 14 MPs in criss-crossing various constituencies in lower Eastern Province Friday, reiterated his claim that although Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and 80 percent of other leaders were in the Yes team, they were in his group.

"Majority of them have been forced to say Yes, intimidated or threatened with visa bans. Most in Yes have their hearts in No and we are confident they will support us at the referendum," Mr Ruto said, amid blaring tunes of hatutaki katiba mbaya (we don't want a bad constitution) from a vehicle in his convoy.

VP's blessings

He said his visit to Mr Musyoka's Ukambani stronghold had the blessings of the VP, whom he said he had consulted and "asked me to come and tell the people to vote No".

Mr Ruto said the No group had asked Mr Musyoka to continue being in the Yes side and defect at the eleventh hour.

The Eldoret North MP, whose entourage received a warm welcome in various stops before addressing a major rally at Wote Town in Makueni, had a clear message to locals and other Kenyans: "Vote No during the August 4 referendum. The proposed constitution be amended to remove contentious issues and we then pass it."

But in a swift rejoinder, the VP’s spokesman, Mr Kaplich Barsito, denied there was any such agreement.

“Only today the VP was busy campaigning for Yes in Changamwe. How can anyone claim he is in No?”

“The VP is firmly in Yes and believes that this proposed constitution, with a few weaknesses which have been identified should be passed to usher the country into a new constitutional dispensation completely overhauling the structures of governance as a basis for creating a sound foundation for take off on the economic, political and social fronts,” he said.

Future amendments will correct the contentious issues, said Mr Barsito .

"Those who say No deserve to be respected especially the church who have raised serious reservations on some of the provisions of the draft constitution.

"When VP says respect the clergy and everyone has the freedom to campaign for Yes and No does not mean that he is in the No camp as minister Ruto is alleging. The VP is firmly in the green corner and he is campaigning vigorously for Kenyans to adopt the new constitution," said Mr Barsito.

The de facto leader of the No campaign said there was no need to rush a document that would spark conflict among Kenyans and interfere with the prevailing peace.

Marginalised

Accompanied by, among others, Communications and Information minister Samuel Poghisio, Environment assistant minister Jackson Kiptanui, his suspended Roads counterpart Wilfred Machage and Belgut MP Charles Keter, Mr Ruto said a majority of Kenyans were against the proposed constitution and expressed confidence that his side will win.

Mr Poghisio and Mutito MP Kiema Kilonzo said only Nyanza Province supported the proposed constitution and urged locals to join them to avoid being marginalised by other Kenyans.

Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo claimed clauses on land in the proposed constitution were borrowed from Prime Minister Raila Odinga's father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga's book Not Yet Uhuru and that they were meant to cause chaos in the country as happened during the attempted 1982 coup.