By Robert Nyasato

After two-week break to bury a minister, his assistant, and police officers killed in the June 10 Ngong chopper crash, this weekend presidential contenders get back on the campaign trail.

Prime Minister Raila odinga who suspended his tour of Nakuru County on the day of the crash that killed former Internal Security Minister and also presidential contestant, George Saitoti and Assistant Minister Orwa Ojode, will be in Kisii on Sunday.

The Orange Democratic Movement leader, who is on a State visit to Moscow, returns Friday and is expected to join ‘ODM Reloaded’ campaign, which is already in Nyamira and Kisii counties.

Raila is expected to address a rally at Gusii Stadium on Sunday, a culmination of four-day on-the-road campaigns by the ‘ODM Reloaded’ team.

The ‘Reloaded’ team comprising ten youthful MPs led by Trade Assistant Minister and South Mugirango MP Manson Nyamweya Thursday started a tour of consolidating support for the PM in Kisii, Nyamira, and will head to Migori County on Saturday.

 “We are preparing ground for the PM’s meeting on Sunday to mobilise support for his presidential bid,” Nyamweya told The Standard.

United Republican Party (leader William Ruto also returns to the presidential race campaign today in Mandera, North Eastern Province. Ruto and all top URP leaders, among them, chairman Francis ole Kaparo, and Trade Minister Ali Chirau Mwakere, Dujis MP Aden Duale, Kaloleni MP Kazungu Kambi, and local leaders are expected to attend.

URP will move to Wajir County tomorrow where they will again hold leaders’ meetings and rallies in Wajir and Habaswein towns before winding up with similar meetings in Garissa on Sunday.

Cancelled tour

Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi who also cancelled his tour of Kitale, Eldoret, Iten, Kabarnet, and Mogotio after the crash is expected to hit the road again tomorrow.

He will return to Western Province for a county-run in Kakamega tomorrow, before moving to Busia, and winding up his weekend programme in the North Rift.

“The DPM is back on the campaign trail and he will be having an intensive programme this weekend in the western part of the country,” said his Communication Director Kibisu Kabatesi.

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka will be at the Nyayo National Stadium to preside over the national trials for Olympic Games. His spokesman Kaplich Barsto said the Wiper Democratic Party brigade would celebrate Sunday Mass in Mwingi before heading to Mombasa County where they will hold a political rally, together with former Cabinet Minister Najib Balala.

The VP will also grace the annual Kenya Secondary School Heads Association Conference. He will persuade principals to support his quest for State House when President Kibaki retires.

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta of The National Alliance was expected in Meru on a campaign trail this weekend, but the meeting was called off at the last minute.

 “We will be back on the campaign trail next week, but a detailed programme would be released later,” said his Director of Communications Munyori Buku.

Another presidential contender, Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo, also of URP, is expected in Nyamira County where he will preside over a church function.

Speaking in Kisii Thursday, three ODM MPs vowed they would take Parliament to court for passing miscellaneous amendments to the Constitution, which they termed unconstitutional.

The legislators Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba, ODM Nominated MPs Rachael Shebesh and Millie Odhiambo said they took the unprecedented action because the Tenth Parliament had become roguish in passing the amendments against the wishes of Kenyans.

“We have taken this unprecedented move so that the Judiciary can reverse this situation on behalf of Kenyans who unanimously supported the Constitution that Parliament wants to desecrate,” Namwamba told a press conference at a Kisii hotel before embarking on the ‘ODM Reloaded’ campaign for Raila’s bid.

They said the passing of the amendments on Wednesday night was the biggest threat to the Constitution.

Urging Constitution Implementation Commission (CIC), the media and civil society to rise up against the move, Namwamba promised they would move to court next week to challenge the amendments.

Extra mile

He said only seven ODM MPs opposed the Bill on the floor of the House.

Shebesh argued impunity had taken over the National Assembly and that was why MPs were debating Bills that had been pronounced unconstitutional by the chair.

“What went on in the House was shameful...we are reforming this country, but it is Parliament that needs to be reformed first,” Shebesh charged. She vowed to go an extra mile to defend what Kenyans desired in passing the Constitution.

She said it was clear to all Kenyans that current parliamentarians were bent on “legislating for self-preservation” and it was time those who believed in the new constitutional order opposed the scheme.

Expressing disgust at being thrown out of the House for opposing the miscellaneous amendments, Shebesh took a swipe at Speaker Kenneth Marende claiming he was not in control.

The MPs appealed to President Kibaki to listen to the voices of Kenyans by declining to assent to the amendments.

At the same time, the legislators urged the President to dissolve Parliament on account that if business continued that way, the country would be plunged into chaos.

In a quick rejoinder, former South Mugirango MP Omingo Magara dismissed the threat to take Parliament to court as unfounded, saying the MPs had a chance to do so on the floor of the House.

 “What the MPs are doing now is playing to the gallery by whipping up public emotions,” Magara said in reaction.

Speaking after he met 300 grassroots leader to seek an endorsement for the Senate seat in Kisii County, Magara said the MPs were pretending yet what Parliament passed was what their masters wanted.