Committee of Experts this week launches an ambitious phase of its civic education targeting skewed interpretations misunderstood and distorted clauses of the Proposed Constitution.

They began panning out to all corners of the country yesterday to try in the next few days to reverse resistance to the Draft linked to political falling out in the Grand Coalition over supposed implication of the disputed clauses.

Armed with at least three million copies of the Proposed Constitution, the experts will roll out road shows and campaigns with caravans being flagged off simultaneously in all provincial headquarters in a bid to have Kenyans vote from a point of knowledge and right information.

The intense civic education begins, albeit behind schedule, in Nairobi and simultaneously across the country on Wednesday. CoE Chairman Nzamba Kitonga is overseeing the programme of action.

Mr Kitonga will lead a section of experts to a major launch at Uhuru Park where caravans leading campaigns in Nairobi and its environs will be launched.

He will be joined by his deputy Ms Atsango Chesoni, and two CoE members Mr Bobby Mkangi and Prof Christina Murray, who is a foreign expert. This phase covers Nairobi and its environs including Machakos, Thika, Murang’a, Meru and Embu.

Distribute materials

Mkangi will then head to Central Kenya — Kiambu, Murang’a, Nyandarua and Nyeri — while Atsango is detailed to lead CoE operations in Machakos, Mwingi, Kitui and Lower Eastern region. Prof Murray will head to the Upper Eastern regions of Embu and Meru areas.

In Naivasha Dr Ekuru Aukot, the director of CoE will lead the team, which will distribute copies of the Drafts and disseminate them through Rift Valley.

Mr Otiende Amollo, a CoE member will lead the team to cover the Coastal area and circulate copies among civic educators camping in designated areas.

Prof Frederick Ssepebwa, a CoE member and former Cabinet minister in Uganda will cover Kakamega.

He will also distribute materials and lead operations to educate voters on the contents of the Proposed Constitution. In Kisumu, Dr Chaloka Beyani, the third foreign expert in CoE will lead a caravan and civic education programme to the residents of the lake region including Siaya, Gem, Kisumu and Nyakach.

Chaloka’s tour will also take him to Southern Nyanza and Gusii regions of Nyamira, Gucha and Kisii.

Mr Abdillahi Abdirashid will take the campaign to the entire North Eastern, starting from Garissa, the provincial headquarters.

Yesterday, Dr Aukot announced: "All committee members are leading a team to all regions across the country. It will be flagged off with road show caravans from 26th and we will publish a schedule of where Kenyans will meet the teams to pose questions, seek clarifications and receive copies."

He added: "No part of the country is being left unattended. All Kenyans including the Northern parts which are remote will receive copies."

"We have at lest three million copies ready for distribution against our target of 10 million. We are waiting for more copies from the Government Printer," he said.

Aukot said they had resorted to using daily newspapers to distribute the Proposed Constitution because of their countrywide reach.

Wider reach

In addition the experts will also use community radio stations to roll out civic education campaigns by exploiting the wider reach of vernacular languages.

"The Government made a commitment to print some five million copies and we are waiting for delivery to enable us give more copies to Kenyans," Auko said of the President’s promise to Kenyans when the Attorney General launched the Proposed Constitution.

The CoE has been in the news over long wait for money from Treasury to fast-track civic education and distribution of copies of the Draft.

Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo blamed Mr Uhuru Kenyatta’s Ministry of Finance for the delay, right into the second week of the launch of the CoE’s civic education programme.

Dr Aukot lamented CoE was cash-starved and facing challenges in carrying out its work as the clocked ticked away towards the end of the period designated for civic education.

"We are hopeful the Sh300 million promised by the Government will come in time so that we can carry out our mandate effectively,’’ he said.

On May 6, Attorney-General Amos Wako set the stage for 30 days of civic education, when he published the Proposed Constitution of Kenya.

Under the theme Jisomee, Jiamulie, Jichagulie, (Read for yourself, Decide and Choose), CoE advises Kenyans to consider provisions in the new law by reading, understanding and voting in the coming referendum.

The CoE has published the following training materials including A Handbook for Civic Education on the Proposed Constitution, a manual for Civic Education on the Draft Law, a Curriculum for Civic Education and Information, Education and Communication materials.

Informed decision

CoE has also trained 15 Provincial Co-ordinators (PCs) and 210 Constituency Civic Educators (CCEs), approved NGOs, professional groups, and Community-Based Organisations, all spread across the country to educate the public.

Aukot asked Kenyans to take advantage of the historic opportunity presented before them, to decide their future by reading the proposed laws and making informed decisions at the referendum.

By David Ohito