Official campaigning got under way on Friday for the November 21 referendum on a draft Constitution which has split the ruling National Rainbow Coalition government into opposing factions.
If the 12-million electorate vote ”Yes” to the proposed draft, it will be the first overhaul of the Constitution since the country’s independence 42 years ago. But the text, which aims to retain a powerful presidency, has many detractors.
The opposition Kenya African National Union (Kanu) and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), a key partner in the ruling coalition government, are campaigning for a ”No” vote.
President Mwai Kibaki is leading the campaign to approve the draft, arguing that Kenyans have waited too long for a new Constitution.
The first draft had recommended a strong prime minister’s post.
The latest draft proposes a non-executive prime minister to be appointed and dismissed by the president.
Violent street protests, which left one person dead, erupted throughout Kenya when it was announced in July.
Kibaki’s coalition government came to power in 2002 on an election platform that promised to deliver a new Constitution to curb sweeping presidential powers that characterised the 24 years of autocratic rule by former president Daniel arap Moi.
As many voters are illiterate, Kenyans can select the symbol of a banana to vote ”Yes” vote or that of an orange to vote ”No”. – Sapa-DPA