> Kenya's former president Daniel arap Moi has dismissed accusations that he
> failed to deliver on reforms during his time in power....
>
> By JACOB NGE'TICH
> Posted Wednesday, July 28 2010 at 14:52
> Kenya's former president Daniel arap Moi has dismissed accusations that he
> failed to deliver on reforms during his time in power.
> Mr Moi was responding to criticism from President Kibaki, who succeeded
> him as president, that he failed to give Kenyans a new constitution
> despite being in power for 24 years.
> President Kibaki said, during a Yes rally in Embu, central Kenya Tuesday,
> that Mr Moi was misleading Kenyans on the Proposed Constitution, which
> will be subjected to a referendum on August 4.
> But in a swift rejoinder, the former president said President Kibaki had
> no right to criticise him.
> "Kuna wengine waliahidi katiba kwa siku mia moja, lakini mpaka sasa bado
> hawajaitimiza (There are those who promised a new constitution within 100
> days, but they are yet to deliver)." said Mr Moi during a No rally in
> Wote, Eastern Province on Wednesday.
> "And they are quick to blame," he added.
> The former president said he will continue to stick to issues in the
> Proposed Constitution as opposed to personalities since he was not
> interested in any gain or political seat.
> On Tuesday, President Kibaki, without naming him, accused Mr Moi of
> misleading Kenyans and asked him to stop doing so: "Wazee wengine
> wanazunguka wakisema katiba ni mbaya (Some old men are moving around
> saying the constitution is bad)."
> He said he felt sorry for Mr Moi, whom he said was embarrassing himself
> with these activities.
> "Ni aibu kubwa kwa wazee kama hawa. Awache wasiwasi na aungane na sisi
> tupitishe katiba (It is a shame for such old men. He should stop panicking
> and join us so that we can pass the constitution)," he said.
> The former president maintained that all he was interested in was a united
> Kenya, where all lived in peace.
> Mr Moi said to make a good constitution there it was important to ensure
> that the needs of every Kenyan were safeguarded, failure to which the
> country will be divided
> "Some are saying Moi was a dictator, but for me I was interested in peace
> and love among Kenyans and I strived to ensure that the country was
> united," he said.
> The former president said constitution making was not like everyday
> politics saying it needed thorough consultations to ensure no one was left
> out of the process.
> Mr Moi said during his tenure as president he ensured that Kenya was
> united and in peace unlike today where people are divided along tribal
> lines.
> He told residents of Maukeni at Wote bus stage that he will not support a
> constitution that allows abortion, same sex marriages and disciplined
> forces to picket.
> "How will the country respond to any security threat if the soldiers were
> picketing?" he posed.
> He was referring to Article 26 (4) in the Proposed Constitution that
> empowers doctors to end a pregnancy only if it endangers the woman's life
> or she needs emergency treatment.
> The document also provides that no Kenyan will be discriminated against on
> grounds of age, marital status, disability, sex, religion among others and
> does not refer to same sex marriages.
> While the Proposed Constitution acknowledges that every Kenyan has the
> right to join association, protest, hold demonstrations and picket, it
> removes the right for the security agencies.
> He further accused the Committee of Experts of introducing foreign
> ideologies to the proposed law.
> MPs, in attendance and who addressed the No rally, condemned the
> accusation against Mr Moi terming it "short sighted and in bad taste".
> Machakos Town MP Victor Munyaka, who fired the first salvo, said those
> accusing former President Moi should be aware that there was no vacuum in
> the constitution during Moi's tenure and none existed even now.
> Mutito MP Kiema Kilonzo wondered why President Kibaki was swift to accuse
> Moi of campaigning against the document when he knew Moi had the right as
> a Kenyans to take any position.
> "(US ambassador) Ranneberger has been going around the county campaigning
> for the constitution, why didn't Kibaki talk against him knowing well that
> he's a foreigner.
> "We are eager to listen to the Whites and when it comes to Moi we tell him
> to shut up. Isn't that double standards?" posed Mr Kilonzo.
> Eldama Ravine legislator Moses Lessonet claimed there were plans to rig
> the referendum and pointed to an opinion poll released by Internal
> Security said PS Security Kimemia showing that the Yes side will win with
> 65 per cent of the vote.
> Makueni MP Peter Kiilu former Kibwezi legislator Kalembe Ndile were among
> the No proponents who attended the Wote rally.
>
>
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