Nairobi — Vice-President Moody Awori yesterday ruled out any possibility of suspending the November 21 referendum on the proposed new Constitution.

"Even if we postpone the voting to January next year, those opposing it would still continue to do so. We shall continue to tell Kenyans to support it and ignore the lies being peddled by the advocates of the No vote," said Mr Awori.

The Vice-President said the proposed new Constitution would not divide Kenyans as some leaders had claimed.

Several politicians, religious leaders and trade unions have appealed to President Mwai Kibaki to postpone the referendum to allow renegotiation on key issues feared to have the potential to divide the country.

But Mr Awori, speaking at Dedan Kimathi stadium (formerly Kamukunji grounds) in Nyeri, urged leaders to engage in mature campaigns and avoid sowing seeds of hatred among Kenyans.

"There are some politicians misleading Kenyans that the proposed new Constitution allows same sex marriages. This is not true. I would urge all Kenyans to read the document and understand it ahead of the voting day," he said.

While urging Kenyans to vote Yes in the referendum, Mr Awori said the proposed new Constitution had greatly reduced presidential powers.

"The President will no longer be able to appoint his friends or relatives to senior positions since Parliament would be required to approve such appointments. He will not also have the powers to allocate land to his friends as has been happening in the past," said the VP.

Elsewhere, the Government announced it had already dispatched 2.2 million copies of the proposed new Constitution.

It would also print an additional five million copies in Kiswahili. Office of the President Assistant minister Mirugi Kariuki said the Kiswahili copies would soon be printed and distributed.

Meanwhile, Cabinet minister Peter Ndwiga yesterday launched the Yes campaign in his Manyatta constituency.

The minister took his constituents through the proposed new Constitution explaining how it would affect Kenyans if it was either passed or rejected in the referendum.

He said it was important for politicians campaigning for or against the document to interpret it to the people to enable them make an informed decision on how to vote.