Nakuru Governor Kinuthia Mbugua bans referendum campaigns in County

Nakuru Governor Kinuthia Mbugua and his deputy Joseph Ruto address the press at Enashipai resort in Naivasha. The two purported to ban referendum campaigns in the county and warned those spearheading the push for the vote to keep off. [PHOTO:  ANTONY GITONGA/STANDARD]

NAIVASHA: Nakuru County governor Kinuthia Mbugua has banned all referendum campaigns in the county with immediate effect and warned those spearheading the plebiscite calls to keep off.

Mbugua said the county remained united noting that they had made their stand on the push for a referendum.

The governor noted that the push for vote would tear the county apart at a time when reconciliation after the 2008 post election violence was taking place.

The governor said no one in the county was supporting the vote noting that leaders in the area had agreed to stop the campaigns.

"I want to make it very clear that no one will be allowed here to campaign or even hold a meeting intended to rally support for the said referendum," he said.

In a move that will not auger well among other governors, Mbugua challenged those supporting the vote to seek other alternatives of resolving the current impasse.

He noted that some issues in the referendum were better off addressed through the set mechanisms and not through a vote that would cost the taxpayer millions of shillings.

"We have set laws and as our leaders in the Jubilee said, such issues will be addressed in line with the set guidelines as per the constitution," he said.

Mbugua however said they were not coerced by the national leaders to drop their bid for the vote saying it was a decision arrived at by the county and grassroots leaders.

"I can tell you for sure even if we say my deputy and I support such calls by the council of governors, we will be talking to ourselves," he said.

The governor was speaking to the press after hosting a delegation of Nigerian businessmen who were on a tour of the county at Enashipai resort in Naivasha.

On his part deputy governor Joseph Ruto said no one was welcome in the county with calls for the vote.

He said that since the debate started they had held several meetings in the county and it was evident that the move was not popular in the area.

"We believe we have acted in the best interests of the residents of this great county and we owe no one an apology to that effect," he said.