Reds camp accuses CoE of shoddy work

By Roselyne Obala and Joel Okwayo

The ‘No’ camp has hit the ground in Western Province barely a week after Prime Minister Raila Odinga and the ‘Yes’ brigade pitched tent there for three days to drum up support for the proposed law.

Led by Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo, the ‘No’ proponents will be in the region for four days to urge locals to reject the Proposed Constitution.

Jirongo, Emgwen MP Elijah Lagat, Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi, Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto and Mosop MP David Koech acknowledged that people want a new constitution but said Kenyans should not settle for bad laws.

The five faulted the Committee of Experts for distorting the recommendations arrived at in Naivasha.

Koech said they wanted the Wanjiku-driven Constitution.

"This constitution is for foreigners. It does not put into consideration recommendations from all cadres of Kenyans," he claimed.

He took issue with article 14 (4), which states that a child found in Kenya and whose parents are not known becomes a Kenyan citizen.

"Our country is bordering many nations — Uganda, Tanzania, Somalia and others. These nationals will troop into our country and automatically become citizens," he said.

Provincial administration

The leaders also touched on counties, land, abortion and provincial administration.

They questioned why Western, despite having a population close to six million, was only getting four counties.

Jirongo urged locals to vote ‘No’ en masse to show their MPs that they are tired of being short changed.

Linturi said doing away with the Provincial Administration was taking services away from the people.