Sack ministers who do not toe the line, principals told

By Isaiah Lucheli and Alex Ndegwa

Speakers at Uhuru Park on Saturday asked the President and PM to fire all Cabinet colleagues opposed to the Proposed Constitution.

Central Organisation of Trade union (Cotu) Secretary General Francis Atwoli led the onslaught.

Cabinet ministers Charity Ngilu and William ole Ntimama said the MPs had passed the draft in Parliament and the Cabinet had endorsed the document. He accused colleagues opposing it as not being honest.

"Some of the people opposing the document took part in the Naivasha retreat, passed it in Parliament and even endorsed it in Cabinet. These are traitors," said Ntimama.

He added that Kenyans had been using a colonial constitution that was oppressive and called on the people to support the document, saying it addresses the wishes and aspirations of Kenyans.

Ngilu described those opposed to the draft as people who do not want changes and are out to protect illegal acquisitions.

She equated the push for the new constitution to war and called on the President and the PM to be firm and fire all those ministers opposed to the draft constitution.

"We are going to hold door to door campaigns and educate the people and my appeal to the PM and the President is that you remove your gloves. This should be a war of bare knuckles," said the Water minister.

Ngilu, who is also the Narc chairperson, further accused the ‘No’ camp of altering the draft in an effort to wane the overwhelming support the document has received countrywide.

Cabinet Henry Kosgey said politicians from Rift Valley region are misleading people.

Kosgey, who is the minister for Industrialisation, explained that the draft protects property and ensures civil liberties.

Internal Security Minister George Saitoti said those opposed to the document are thriving on propaganda.

Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim asked the people not to be swayed by MPs opposed to the draft constitution.

He also led the people in a mock vote on the document and announced the ‘Ayes have it’.

Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi said the time for the constitution is now, noting that many people had been injured some had died while others had been detained in the quest for a new constitution.

East Africa Co-operation Minister Amason Kingi likened those who were opposed to the draft to false prophets and called on the people to be wary of them.

Other ministers present included Fred Gumo, Esther Murugi, Chris Obure, Anyang Nyong’o, Moses Wetang’ula, John Munyes, Mohammed Kuti, James Orengo, Soita Shitanda, Mohammed Elmi and deputy Prime Ministers Uhuru Kenyatta and Musalia Mudavadi.

Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on Constitution Review Abdikadir Mohamed and his deputy Ababu Namwamba also attended.

The party leaders who addressed the meeting included Asman Kamama (Narc-Kenya), Johnstone Muthama (ODM-Kenya), Musikari Kombo (Ford- Kenya), Mwangi Kiunjuri (GNU) and Cabinet ministers Ngilu (Narc), Uhuru (Kanu), Kosgey (ODM) and Saitoti (PNU)