President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Saturday launched the Yes campaigns to drum up support for the proposed constitution.

The rally at Uhuru Park was attended by thousands of Kenyans who started steaming as early as seven in the morning, as the no supporters took their rally to Machakos to oppose the draft ahead of the referendum set for 4^th August.

More than 70 MPs from across the political divide had drawn from various parties, politicians and clergy men who are for the document attended the Yes Vote rally.

Speakers in the rally deliberately avoided mentioning of the insertion of the two words “National security” to the proposed constitution portraying it as no threat to the referendum process.

Speaking in the rally president Kibaki urged all Kenyans to come out enmass during the August referendum to vote and exercise their democratic right in shaping the destiny of the country for many generations to come.

The president also shunned the propaganda spread by the No proponents on the contentious clauses which include Kadhi’s courts and abortion saying the same existed in the current constitutional.

Kibaki further added that if they were genuine they should pass the draft as it is and lobby for amendments after the referendum.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga on his part said asked all Kenyans to conduct the campaigns peacefully, read the document and avoid hate statements which may jeopardize the upcoming referendum process and the quest for a new constitution.

“Never listen to propaganda of the non reformist, ignore critics of the proposed law and read the document and make informed decisions during the referendum.” Raila said

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka was so quick to reiterate that he and the ODM Kenya party were in support of the proposed constitution contrary to the thinking of many that he was still torn between supporting and rejecting the document

The deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta who has been down playing the entire constitution making process used the forum to declare his support for the proposed constitution saying this was a defining moment for Kenya and a new constitution was key to attaining the much desired reforms in the country. 

Most of the speakers who address the mammoth crowd called for the sacking of members of cabinet who are in the no camp saying they are jeopardizing the entire process by not speaking in one voice with the cabinet.

The Minister for higher learning William Ruto has been in the fore front in the No campaigns

The 'Yes' team brings together political rivals from PNU and ODM.

Starehe MP Margaret Wanjiru, who is in the 'No' camp, is the only Nairobi legislator missing from the 16 member team that also includes political foes Reuben Ndolo and Dick Wathika.

 During the rally, they said, experts will educate Kenyans on the proposed Constitution and mainly focus on contentious clauses such as land, abortion and kadhis' courts.

Last Saturday, church held a similar rally on the same historical grounds where William Ruto led 17 MPs in attending the launch of the ‘No' campaign.

The Yes team however clarified that those were not campaigning for the proposed constitution but it was a civic education exercise.

The Committee of experts on constitution are now running a 30 day countrywide civic education program and campaign will be declared open ahead of the referendum.