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Kakamega, July 29, 2010

President Mwai Kibaki is received by Yes supporters on arrival for a rally at the Masinde Muliro Gardens in Kakamega.

The new constitution outlines comprehensive reforms in governance and the broad operations in the management of public affairs, President Mwai Kibaki has said.

Addressing a mammoth ‘Yes’ campaign rally at the Muliro Gardens in Kakamega town, President Kibaki told the jubilant crowd that the new constitution was handing back to them authority in decision making process on issues that shape their lives.

Thanking Kenyans for their steadfast support and resolute decision to vote for the new constitution, the President noted that the draft law had been assembled by qualified Kenyans guided by the greater good of the nation.

During the occasion the Head of State noted that the new legal provisions would midwife a modern nation where every citizen enjoys fundamental rights and access to a fair share of the national resources.

President Kibaki reiterated that the nation was staring a historical moment, adding that the few contentious issues could not be used as a basis of rejecting the Proposed Constitution.

“The few contentious clauses in the Proposed Constitution will be amended by Kenyans at a future date,” said the President.

He affirmed that several reforms had so far been achieved in various sectors of public service, adding that immense changes had been implemented in the voting system thus sealing loopholes that create hostilities among communities.

During the occasion the Head of State further urged Kenyans to scrutinize dedicated leaders who could unite and be trusted with steering the nation to higher levels of development.

On his part, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka urged Kenyans to overwhelmingly vote for the new constitution in honour of all heroes of the second liberation struggle among them Masinde Muliro.

The Vice-President urged area residents to sustain the prevailing high moment and determination to pass the new constitution on August 4th.

He said the focus among Kenyans had shifted to an inter-province competition to enable the country get the new constitution with a convincing margin.

Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi predicted a massive landslide in the passage of the new constitution because it was the solid desire of all Kenyans.

He commended preachers, civic leaders and women groups who had selflessly campaigned for the draft constitution and ensured its massive support in the entire province.

Addressing the jubilant crowd, COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli said that the workers union clearly understands that the enactment of a new constitution as well as the implementation of the entire Agenda 4 are the twin remedy to everlasting peace in the country.

Mr. Atwoli said that COTU started early campaigns to rally Kenyans behind the new constitution and expressed joy that wananchi from all parts of the country had decided to vote for the new constitution.

Noting that ‘Green’ is an internationally recognized symbol of peace, Mr Atwoli told Kenyans that the Proposed Constitution would enable children from poor and disadvantaged backgrounds gain opportunities including the national leadership.

Other leaders who addressed the well-attended ‘Yes’ forum assured President Kibaki that they had conducted sufficient mobilization for the local people to enable the new constitution get overwhelming support.

They urged the local people not to squander the opportunity to lay a firm foundation for their nation and ensure that President Kibaki’s vision and determination to hand back the decision making power in management of public affairs to wananchi was successful.

The huge rally was attended by cabinet ministers Moses Wetangula, Fred Gumo, Wycliffe Oparanya, Soita Shitanda and Paul Otuoma, several assistant ministers and legislators drawn from all parts of the country.