Vote: 'No' team smells victory at referendum

Business

By Njoki Chege and Martin Mutua

The ‘No’ team upped its campaigns and assured supporters of victory on August 4, even as the leaders continued their unrelenting attacks on US Ambassador Michael Ranneberger for his perceived support of the Proposed Constitution.

With 19 days to the historic referendum, Higher Education Minister William Ruto led other ‘No’ camp leaders in asking the Greens to prepare for a tough battle. "Kenyans should not be moved by the Government’s attempts to frustrate their efforts to enlighten Kenyans on the real deal concerning the proposed constitution," said Ruto.

Earlier in the morning, Ruto had led nine MPs to hit out at Ranneberger, whom they accused of "abdicating his diplomatic role and turning out to be a ‘Yes’ activist going round the country bribing voters".

However, the US has strongly denied that it was providing money to support the "Yes" campaign nor was its Nairobi envoy nor embassy intimidating opponents to the Proposed Constitution.

Ruto spoke as five Permanent Secretaries from Western Kenya were spotted campaigning for the Proposed Constitution amongst their community.

The PSs claimed that President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga had instructed them to lobby their Luhya community to support the new law.

But Ruto said that even though the ‘Yes’ side had marshalled the whole Government machinery to its advantage, the ‘No’ side had covered much ground and was ready for a tough duel.

Religious leaders at the funeral of Bishop Joseph Segel at his Ongata Rongai home, Thursday. Segel, who was one of the clerics opposed to the Proposed Constitution, was shot on the night of July 3. [PHOTO: BONIFACE OKENDO /STANDARD]

Last week, more than 40 PSs and accounting officers of ministries who were led by Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura had visited the Prime Minister, who urged them to be part of re-writing the history of the country.

Gunned down

Raila has reiterated that the Proposed Constitution is Government project, a position that has been criticised by the ‘No’ brigade.

Yesterday, Ruto was upbeat about a victory.

"I have no doubt over where victory will be after the August 4 referendum" he said when he spoke at the funeral of Bishop Joseph Segel in Ongata Rongai.

Unknown assailants gunned down Segel, who was one of the Church leaders opposed to the draft, on the night of July 3.

At the funeral, Internal Security Minister George Saitoti said police would do everything to apprehend Segel’s killers.

Starehe MP Margaret Wanjiru and Redeemed Gospel Church Bishop Dr Arthur Kitonga also expressed confidence that the ‘No’ side would triumph come the plebiscite.

Wanjiru called on the ‘Reds’ supporters to "remain steadfast and not to be swayed by ‘false interpretations on the Proposed Constitution’.

In criticising the US envoy, who has been on the forefront in supporting good governance and reforms in Kenya, the ‘No’ team protested at what they said was the US Government’s partisan role.

"The interference by the US Government smirks of imperial arrogance and patronage and is an intolerable invasion on the sovereignty and national pride of the people of Kenya," they said in a statement read by Igembe MP Mithika Linturi.

Diplomatic etiquette

The leaders asked Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula to summon Ranneberger to protest what they called "blatant breach of diplomatic etiquette."

"It is now official that the Obama Administration is funding and financing the ‘Yes’ team and its envoy, Ambassador Michael Ranneberger, has recently descended from his diplomatic high ground to the murky realm of political activism as a ‘Yes’ crusader," claimed Linturi.

But in a statement on Monday, the United States Embassy had declared: "These claims are categorically false, and those making such allegations are lying".

As the attacks on the envoy escalated, a group of ‘Yes’ politicians sprung to the defence of the envoy, with some saying Ranneberger had a right to express his opinions and that ultimately Kenyans held the trump card. They included Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, Water and Irrigation Minister Charity Ngilu and Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa, the deputy chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of Parliament.

On Wednesday, a US Congressman, Mr Chris Smith, had said the American Government had given funds to several groups to win voters over to the ‘Yes’ side.

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