Kibaki, Raila take ‘Yes’ campaign to Ukambani

By Mutinda Mwanzia and Daniel Nzia

The country’s top political leadership took the ‘Yes’ campaign to lower Eastern Province to woo the over one million voters ahead of the referendum.

President Kibaki, Prime Minister

Raila Odinga, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, and several ministers drummed up support for the Proposed Constitution in Machakos, the political headquarters of Ukambani.

The ‘Yes’ brigade made stopovers at key trading centres along the busy Mombasa road at Mlolongo, Athi River, Chumvi before snaking into Machakos town for the rally held at at the Kenyatta Stadium.

Yesterday’s campaign saw Kalonzo and Charity Ngilu who have been battling for political supremacy join forces to rally the region to the ‘Yes’ camp.

The leaders also used the opportunity to promise a basket of goodies to the voters. Residents were promised better roads, hospitals and access to clean drinking water. Kibaki urged leaders not to incite the public over the contents of the Proposed Constitution saying it was a good document.

He said Kenyans have yearned for a new Constitution for long and time was ripe to realise the dream.

The President urged politicians to stop "spreading lies about the document".

Raila said poor governance in the past had triggered the clamour for a new constitution adding it would usher a new dawn.