Muungano wa Katiba Kombozi Press Statement
We, the veterans of the Second Liberation assembled here, in conjunction with all those patriotic citizens who share our vision in civil society, in religious organisation, in professional bodies, in private enterprise, and in all walks of life, are here to formally launch our campaign against the Proposed Constitution of Kenya.
For a long time we have fought for the democratisation of this country, and the enactment of a new democratic dispensation, of which a democratic constitution is a major plank. Unfortunately, the proposed constitution is designed to throw Kenyans off course on the journey to our full emancipation as a free and prosperous people.
The Proposed Constitution of Kenya is a betrayal of the principles and purpose of the Second Liberation Movement. The draft Constitution is not what we had in mind when we put our lives on the line to fight for the liberation of this country and the emancipation of the Kenyan people. Though the draft has a sugar-coating made up of some of the things that we fought for, like an expanded Bill of Rights, it has toxic provisions that threaten the very foundation of the Kenyan State and, hence, negate all the good they represent.
Key among these are the threat of disintegration through reckless devolution and land laws that articulate our ethnic differences and not our similarities. No country in history has survived a decision by its political leadership to organise it not on the progressive basis of equality but on the retrogressive basis of special interests and the differences of its citizens.
Why do we want to throw our beloved country into turmoil? Whose idea is it? And whose interests does it serve?
We are also opposed to the way the campaign for the draft is being conducted. It is misplaced for anybody to traverse the country using all manner of negative adjectives to derogate those on the NO side as unpatriotic anti-reformers and do-no-gooder hypocrites. We are left wondering whether the said YES camp have misconstrued the referendum to be a witch-hunt.
The referendum is not a witch execution where we choose between good and bad guys. It is about democratic choice and, hence, it is unacceptable to think that we can use such undemocratic means to midwife a democratic dispensation. The constitution is about current and future citizens of Kenya ; it's not about President Kibaki, Premier Odinga, or the Cabinet. Nobody is boss or subordinate. We are in this as private and equal citizens.
This is not a Government project. The Government's role is limited to facilitating both sides in the process as an honest broker. If there is reason for one side to use public resources to campaign, the same resources must be availed to the other side in the name of levelling the playing field.
We also strongly object to the deep and partisan involvement of foreign embassies led by the US ambassador Mr. Michael Ranneberger. Their involvement is not just a violation of their mandate, it is an unacceptable attack on our sovereignty and an insult to our intelligence.
From here we are going to hit the ground running to campaign for the rejection of the proposed Constitution in all corners of the Republic of Kenya .
Signed:
- Hon. Charles Rubia
- Hon. Koigi wa Wamwere
- Hon. Mtumishi Njeru Kathangu
- Hon. Wanyiri Kihoro
- Advocate Ms. Jane Njiru (Chief Agent)
- Advocate Mwaure Waihiga
- Okiya Omtatah Okoiti
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