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Kenyan Official Calls For Referendum Campaign Delay

   Peter Clottey 14 June 2010

Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS

   A  Kenyan  lies  on  the  stretcher  at Kenyatta National Hospital for
   treatment  after  a bomb explosion in Nairobi, Kenya, Sunday, June 13,
   2010. An explosion ripped through a park in Nairobi's capital during a
   packed  political rally late Sunday, killing at least three people and
   wounding dozens more, officials said.

   The  chairman  of Kenyaâs National Cohesion and Integration Commission
   (NCIC) has called for the investigation and prosecution of politicians
   who  propagate  hate in their speeches thus escalating tensions in the
   country.

   Mzalendo  Kibunja  said  the  NCIC  has petitioned both President Mwai
   Kibaki  and  Prime  Minister  Raila Odinga to temporarily postpone all
   campaigning  ahead  of  the  4  August  referendum on Kenyaâs proposed
   constitution.

   âWhat  we are saying is that since the draft constitution was launched
   in Nairobi, there have been emerged very opposite positions of leaders
   who  are opposed or supporting the draft constitution. And, that these
   positions  are  greatly  polarizing  the  country  to the extent where
   really hatred is already creeping in (to) our country,â he said.

   This  comes  after Sundayâs twin explosions that killed six people and
   wounded  more  than  100. The blasts occurred shortly after a campaign
   rally at Uhuru Park in Kenyaâs capital, Nairobi.

   The  government  has launched a full-scale investigation into the twin
   blasts.  But,  the  National  Council  of Churches of Kenya blames the
   government  for  the  violence. President Mwai Kibaki, in a statement,
   condemned the attacks. No one has claimed responsibility.

   Chairman  Kibunja told VOA the NCIC has presented evidence to both the
   attorney  general  and  the  Criminal  Investigation  Department (CID)
   against  politicians  who he said are spreading hate speech across the
   country.

   He  also  called  for  the  postponement  of  the  ongoing  referendum
   campaign.

   âConsidering  what happened (violence) in 2008 and 2005, we are asking
   that  the  two principals, President Kibaki and (Prime Minister) Raila
   Odinga,  suspend  the  campaigns  until  the  official campaign period
   begins which we understand is supposed to be July 13th,â he said.

   Kenyans  are  scheduled to decide in a referendum whether to accept or
   reject  the  proposed draft constitution. This comes after the Interim
   Independent  Electoral  Commission  announced  on  19^th  May that the
   official campaign period for the referendum would begin on 13^th July,
   two days ahead of the voting.

   Chairman  Kibunja  said  the  NCIC  will  continue  gathering evidence
   against people instigating hate speech.

   âThat  is  why,  as a commission, we have summoned about 20 people. We
   have  also  recommend(ed)  prosecution  of  three  people, and we have
   gathered this evidence, and we have presented them to the commissioner
   of  the  police and attorney general. Whereas, the other ones, we have
   summoned  them  in  a  view  of trying to investigate and collect more
   evidence that can stand in court, as hate speech,â Kibunja said.

   Kibunja also urged Kenyans to condemn any form of hate speech since he
   said  the  2007  post-election violence is still fresh in the minds of
   many people.

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