By Beauttah Omanga
Cabinet ministers opposed to the Proposed Constitution launched their secretariat with an attack on President Barack Obama, accusing the US of using its power to influence the referendum. The ministers described the proposed law as a recipe for chaos.
Higher Education Minister William Ruto and his Special Programmes counterpart Naomi Shaban accused the Obama administration of intimidating Kenyans into submission.
“There is no difference in what the Obama Presidency is dangling to Kenyans in order to pass a new constitution to the dishing of cash handouts to voters during election time by politicians,” said Mr Ruto.
He said it was strange Obama was tying his next visit to Kenya to a new constitution. “President Obama does not need a new constitution to visit his grandmother,” he said.
Dr Shaban, who was the chief guest at yesterday’s launch of Red Card Centre at Upper Hill, Nairobi, said: “We can’t stoop that low to a point that US wants to tell us what to do in order to get any help from them. They are giving Kenyans false promises.”
Assistant Ministers Wilfred Machage and Fred Kapondi said the new constitution, if passed, would lead to ethnic clashes.
Emotive issue
Said Dr Machage: “All communities will hide under the new law to claim their ancestral lands and my own Kurias will claim their own even if it means using force.”
Mr Kapondi said the Sabaots from his Mt Elgon constituency will also reclaim all their ancestral lands.
Shaban said the new law would be a source of family break-ups because it will promote gender equality.
“Women will easily accept marriage by wealthy men and after a short while file for divorce with a view of sharing 50-50 of the husband’s wealth,” warned Shaban.
Ruto said: “The land issue is very emotive and we don’t want a constitution that makes it a source of conflicts for as long as it will exist. This constitution is now a contest between those who merely want change against those of us in ‘No’ who want meaningful change.”
Cabinet Minister Samuel Poghisio, MPs Mithika Linturi, Kiema Kilonzo, Jebii Kilimo and former MP Njeru Kathangu faulted the Committee of Experts for causing changes in the draft constitution, which were now contentious.
Mrs Christine Miller, speaking on behalf of Central Province ‘No’ supporters, said: “Majority of the Central Kenya MPs are fully behind ‘No’ that is why they have never bothered to hold a rally in the region.”
The group said it would hold countrywide rallies to educate Kenyans on the “dangers of passing the draft law”.
Bishop Wilfred Lai said the ‘Yes’ team was full of liars “because they are not telling Kenyans the truth that the new law once passed, will never be amended since we will not have funds for another referendum”.
Dr Tom Namwamba, a university lecturer, will head the ‘No’ secretariat while lawyer Hassan ole Kamwaro will handle its legal matters.
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