By ALEX NDEGWA
The ‘Greens’ claimed victory for the "breathtaking ‘Yes’ vote" and hailed the imminent approval of the new constitution as the "birth of the Second Republic".
Addressing a news conference at Bomas of Kenya before declaration of the official final tally by the Interim Independent Electoral Commission, the ‘Yes’ team said "gallant people have spoken with a thunderous voice".
The team dedicated the victory to all Kenyans and reached out to the rival ‘No’ camp so they could together embark on the harder task of implementing the new constitution.
"The opposing teams in the referendum campaigns should now unite and work on modalities of implementing the new constitution. It is our constitution for Kenya and for Kenyans," said the joint statement read by Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi, the ‘Yes’ campaign team leader.
Deputy Prime Ministers Uhuru Kenyatta and Musalia Mudavadi, six Cabinet ministers and more than ten MPs were present.
Uhuru, the Finance Minister, said the optimism sweeping across the country would rekindle patriotism and impact well on economic development.
Prof Nyong’o said: "The win is not for the leaders but for all Kenyans."
At the end of the news conference, the jubilant ‘Yes’ team stood up, held hands and raised them up as they chanted "Green! Yes!"
The MPs, who were joined by "Yes" secretariat co-directors Peter Kagwanja and Janet Ong’era, saluted the leadership of President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
