A majority of Kenyans intend to vote for a new constitution next month, although land remains a divisive subject in the province which was the epicentre of post-election violence in 2008, opinion polls showed on Friday, according to Reuters. Angered by corruption, land ownership scandals and powerful politicians, Kenyans look set to approve the new legal framework on Aug. 4 to replace a constitution that has been in use since independence from British colonial rule in 1963. A random countrywide survey conducted in July by pollster Synovate showed that 58 percent would vote "Yes", while 22 percent were against the draft constitution and 17 percent were undecided. The rest said they would not vote. Results by another pollster, Infotrak Research and Consulting, showed 65 percent of the 12.7 million registered voters in east Africa's biggest economy would vote for the law, 25 percent would vote against it and 10 percent were undecided. Uncertainty over the outcome of the referendum and whether the divisive atmosphere in Kenya will lead to violence have been weighing on the east African country's currency. The Synovate poll showed the top two reasons given by opponents of the law were a clause allowing abortions on medical grounds and plans to cap private land holdings. The land proposal was by far the biggest worry in the Rift Valley province, the country's biggest. The poll showed 41 percent would be concerned about land if the constitution passes, more than twice the national average. The province is the homeland of the Kalenjin who targeted Kikuyus after disputed presidential elections in late 2007, leading to fierce reprisal attacks and some of the worst violence in the country's history.
