Ruto set for marathon No rallies in Eastern

Higher Education minister William Ruto will Friday lead a series of No rallies in lower Eastern province as the referendum campaigns hit the homestretch.

Mr Ruto and Mutito MP Kiema Kilonzo will hold ten No rallies in Ukambani aimed at rallying Kenyans to reject the proposed Constitution during the August 4 referendum.

They are expected to conduct campaigns against the document at different venues including: Mutito, Mutomo, Nzombe in Kitui West, Ngomeni in Mwingi, Kathiani, Mbooni, Wote and Ithiwa.

The marathon rallies will culminate at Machakos Town in late afternoon.

Mr Ruto said his group had split into five groups to sell their message across the country and reach out to as many Kenyans as possible.

The Eldoret North MP said a second group, led by Igembe South legislator Mithika Linturi and Silas Muriuki (Imenti North) head to Meru where they will campaign in Mikinduri, Tigania, Ntonyiri, Meru town before winding up at Tharaka.

Information minister Samuel Poghisio will lead another No group in the larger West Pokot before holding a final rally in Kapenguria.

Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo and his Cherengany counterpart Joshua Kutuny will take the No message to Western province while former president Moi will take the No campaign to Lodwar in northern Kenya.

The No camp, which has pitched tent in Meru and Ukambani in recent weeks, has identified the areas as representing the sway vote and have urged locals to reject the proposed Constitution on the grounds of devolution.

Their selling point in Meru is that the proposed Constitution should have provided for more counties.

Ukambani represents the largest number of undecided voters, according to opinion polls, and the No camp is looking to woo residents to their side.

The No camp is opposed to the provisions on land, abortion and devolution in the proposed Constitution and have vowed to rally Kenyans to reject the document at Wednesday's referendum to pave way for amendments to the contentious clauses.

They argue that Kenyans can then go to another referendum united and usher a new constitutional dispensation.