Look out for sabotage, CoE warns

By Antony Gitonga and Beauttah Omanga

The Committee of Experts on Constitutional Review wants Kenyans to be wary of an upsurge of attempts to thwart the constitution-making process, now in its final stages.

CoE Director Ekuru Aukot yesterday accused some officers in the Ministry of Finance of sabotaging the process.

And Chairman Nzamba Kitonga called on Kenyans to remain alert of concerted efforts by "enemies of the new constitution," to shift the country’s focus from getting a new document.

"Kenyans should be on the look out for many enemies, who are coming up with hurdles in the path of the final lap of the process that has consumed billions and see many lives lost," urged Mr Kitonga.

Speaking when he launched civic education in Naivasha and Gilgil, Aukot reiterated that the committee had only received Sh90 million from the PM’s office and Sh10 million from the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.

Dr Aukot added: "The situation is now critical as we have been forced to use funds meant for administration."

Kitonga said the committee required Sh330 million for civic education, adding Treasury had ignored their pleas for more funds.

"We have been pleading with the Treasury to give us money, but they have flatly refused to release any. All they tell us is to talk to the line ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs," lamented Kitonga.

Six million copies

Aukot accused the Government of failing to keep its promise of printing six million copies of the Proposed Constitution as ordered by the President.

He added that the Government had only printed 830,000 copies.

"The CoE has already published more than 5.7 million copies of the Proposed Constitution, which has affected our budgets. We are not sure about what is going on at the Government printer."

He said it would be difficult to conduct civic education without the necessary documents and funding.

Despite the setback, the committee is determined to ensure the process is not derailed.

Aukot accused some leaders of misleading Kenyans on the ground mainly on abortion and called on Kenyans to read and understand the document well.

Kitonga said the enemies of the new constitution include those in the system who want the status quo maintained and others who desire that Kenyans continue being oppressed under the current constitution.

And in Mombasa, CoE member Otiende Amollo said they would hire helicopters to ferry copies of the draft to places that are inaccessible by road such as parts of Northern Kenya.

Speaking when he and other commissioners flagged of the civic education road show for the region, Amollo also assured that the recent ruling on Kadhi courts would not affect the referendum process.

Speaking separately, a member of the Committee Njoki Ndung’u called on Kenyans to consider the many benefits of the Proposed Constitution.

"Kenyans should look at the good things the Proposed Constitution will bring as compared to the losses it will subject Kenyans to if rejected," urged Ms Ndung’u.

The former MP spoke yesterday at the Standard/KTN newsroom where she took reporters and editors through the document.