State has nothing to hide over US funding, says Mutula

By Athman Amran and Gerald Gichura

Constitutional Affairs Minister Mutula Kilonzo has said the Government has nothing to hide regarding funding for constitutional reforms from the US Government.

He said the funding is channelled through the United States Aid Agency (USAid) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to non-governmental organisations for civic education.

"If the money comes and goes to NGOs nobody can say that it is benefiting the ‘Yes’ campaign," Mutula said yesterday during a press conference at a Nairobi Hotel under the auspices of the ‘Yes’ secretariat.

He said the US government has no direct influence over the reform agenda.

Mutula announced the ‘Yes’ secretariat was short of funds and would welcome support.

The minister said it was due to the support of well-wishers that even the Committee of Experts, which has so far distributed 10 million copies of the Proposed Constitution, has stayed afloat.

Mutula said he had advised the CoE to print one to two million more copies to act as reference for Kenyans after the Proposed Constitution becomes law.

He defended the US ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger against claims he had crossed the line.

"If Ranneberger is outspoken, this is neither here nor there," Mutula said adding that Kenyans are not gullible to submit to pressure by the ‘No’ team.

The minister however said Kenyans should worry about the support the evangelical churches and the ‘No’ team were getting from extreme right wing US politicians.

He said the evangelical churches were demonising a document that would address the plight of the poor, the rights of women and children.

"While USAid funds can be accessed and it is open, the funding of churches and the ‘No’ team is done in silence," Mutula said.

The minister said it was important for Kenyans to know what would happen if the vote went either way.

He said it was for this reason he offered to meet the ‘No’ team to explain to them the consequences of whatever their words, actions and the vote on August 4.

He assured Kenyans that the Government would ensure security for all during and after the referendum.

On Thursday, Ranneberger said America will continue to support civic education on the Proposed Constitution. The envoy said civic education on the proposed laws had a big impact on the reform agenda.