|
Reject
Banana, 10 MPs tell Ogiek
DAILY NATION
Story by KENNEDY MASIBO and SIMON SIELE
Publication Date: 11/16/2005
Ten MPs have asked the Ogiek to
vote against the proposed Constitution on Monday.
About 12,000 members of the
community were recently issued with land title deeds by President
Kibaki. But the legislators, who included Immigration minister
Linah Jebii Kilimo, asked them to reject the proposed Constitution
saying the issuance of the title deeds was not "a favour but
a right".
The MPs were led by Mrs Kilimo,
Kanu secretary-general William Ruto and Mbita MP Otieno Kajwang'.
"It is a constitutional right
for one to be issued with a title deed once you acquire land and
hence you should not waver during the November 21 referendum and
vote Yes," said Mrs Kilimo.
The No team held their rally at the
Olenguruone DO's camp – where President Kibaki issued the title
deeds last month. They said the proposed Constitution was flawed
and aimed at dividing Kenyans.
MPs Noah arap Too, Paul Sang,
Charles Keter, Franklin Bett, Musa Sirma, Moses Cheboi and Nick
Salat said should the Banana camp win, "one tribe stands to
benefit". They said the move to revisit past human rights
violations was targeted at victimising a certain community.
According to them, the Akiwumi
report on land clashes will be revived to allow the Government to
pursue those who were perceived to have committed human right
abuses such as land clashes that rocked parts of Rift Valley and
Likoni at the Coast.
Mr Kajwang' said Kenyans should
expect a new political dispensation after the No camp wins "because
we shall go back and draft a new constitution that is popular with
all Kenyans using the Bomas draft".
He criticised remarks he attributed
to Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Kiraitu Murungi
that Central Province should protect President Kibaki's
Government. He said the remarks amounted to whipping-up tribal
sympathy.
"We gave President Kibaki a
five-year contract to rule, and if Mr Kiraitu now feels that a
certain community should rise up and defend his government by
voting Yes during the referendum, then other communities should
rise up too and vote No if the proposed draft is unpopular with
them," said Mr Kajwang'.
|
