Ruto: Draft will lead to harassment

By Patrick Beja and Linah Benyawa

The US government is plotting to reintroduce the Anti-Terrorism Bill into Kenya after it was rejected by Parliament, the ‘No’ camp has claimed.

Higher Education Minister Wiliam Ruto, who is leading the ‘No’ campaign in Coast Province, claimed the US was pushing the passage of the new Constitution during the August 4 referendum because it allowed agreements made in foreign countries to be domesticated as Kenyan law without going through Parliament.

Addressing a ‘No’ rally at Diani in the South Coast, Ruto told Coast residents to reject the draft constitution because the re-introduction of the anti-terror Bill would see the harassment of Muslims.

Ruto was accompanied by Machakos Town MP Victor Munyaka, former Malindi MP Lucas Maitha and former Kibwezi MP Kalembe Ndile.

"Parliament rejected the Anti-Terrorism Bill because it would have subjected Muslims to harassment. You should also reject the draft Constitution because the US wants to use it to introduce the same law through the back door," Ruto argued.

Meaningful reforms

On land, Ruto claimed the proposed National Land Commission would not bring about meaningful reforms, as it would sit in Nairobi instead of resolving land problems in the districts.

"It will be costly for the poor to travel to Nairobi to pursue land matters through the

National Land Commission. It should also have been based at the district level so as to resolve land matters on site," Ruto said. He insisted there were 300 contentious sections in the draft constitution which were to be amended in Parliament but MPs were coerced into withdrawing the amendment motions.

Dr Munyaka called for dissolution of the Cabinet if the ‘No’ camp wins on August 4.