- Title: KENYA: Close call nine days ahead of Kenya's presidential elections
- Date: 19th December 2007
- Summary: (BN15) NAIROBI, KENYA (FILE - 2005) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF NAIROBI STREET VARIOUS OF NEWSPAPER HEADLINES MORE OF NEWSPAPER HEADLINES
- Embargoed: 3rd January 2008 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Kenya
- Country: Kenya
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA6W70VS51OY2R24SGDCW50VNN2
- Story Text: Kenya prepare to go the polls on December 27 in what analysts predict will be one of the closest presidential elections ever.
Massive awareness campaigns targeting the youth especially have resulted in a record one million people registering as new voters, putting the total number at 14.2 million in Kenya as one of the most closets poll due to take place on Thursday (December 27).
The presidential candidates have to fight for the majority vote in what analysts say the elections in nine days time will be the closest ever in Kenya's history.
Donning a Mandela-style flowery shirt and quipping jokes with the masses, President Mwai Kibaki is fast shedding his aloof image as he hits the road in a frantic race to win Kenya's December election.
Despite his age, 75, a re-energised Kibaki has been criss-crossing the nation, addressing rallies, dancing with children, entering homesteads, and even putting on traditional Islamic dress for the end of the holy month Ramadhan.
While traversing the nation of 36 million, Kibaki has touted gains made since he took over in 2002, such as free education, an improved economy, and wider democratic space.
"I am asking you for your vote. I am asking for your vote today so that I can come back one more time and I can finish the work I started. Then I will go home and rest," said Kibaki.
Raila Odinga, who is running on an Orange Democratic Party or ODM ticket, was instrumental in Kibaki's victory in 2002 then became his roads minister. But he was sacked after campaigning against his boss in a 2005 referendum.
Analysts generally say the two men, while poles apart in style, would in fact differ little on basic policy, particularly for the economy which has been motoring along smoothly at around five percent average annual growth since Kibaki took over.
Both are promising increased growth in a business-friendly environment, and to extend free primary education to the secondary sector.
Their main difference is over political devolution, with Odinga championing more power to provinces but Kibaki arguing that would foster tribalism.
Many Kenyans see the coming election, however, as having little to do with issues and all to do with the tussle between Kibaki's Kikuyu tribe, and Odinga's western Luo community, which says it has been marginalised by the government.
"We have travelled to all corners of Kenya, listening to what people have to say and they have spoken clearly; they want change! The young, the old, the women the disabled have all said they want change," said Odinga.
Another presidential candidate, Kalonzo Musyoka believes he has the masses and support to be the next president and always quotes the bible while addressing people during campaigns. Running on the Orange Democratic Party of Kenya or ODM-K ticket, Kalonzo broke away from Raila's party when they differed over leadership in the party.
"I speak prophetically, I said Raila will be on one side, Kibaki will be on the other side and Kalonzo, together with Kenyans, will come blazing through the middle," said Musyoka.
In 2002 Kibaki, Raila and Kalonzo worked closely under the National Rainbow Coalition or NARC to expel the then ruling party KANU headed by former president Daniel Arap Moi. Moi handed over the party's reins to Kenya's first president's son, Uhuru Kenyatta.
Daniel Arap Moi, was at the helm of KANU for 24 years. The NARC coalition achieved their goal in landmark elections marked by general euphoria.
Recent opinion polls have seen Raila take the lead. He sparked a national debate with his controversial policy to introduce a Federal system of government if elected to office -- to stem corruption and speed up economic growth.
"I want to vote for him because I want change, we wanted to remove Moi for change but it was not done. That is why you see Kibaki and Moi are together so we want change; this time we want Raila to take over to give us change," said a Nairobi resident who supports opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Graft allegations have played a central role in the run-up to the Dec.
27 polls in east Africa's biggest economy, where Kibaki and his main rival have traded accusations for weeks.
Odinga, accuses the president of failing to fulfil an earlier pledge to stamp out endemic corruption. Kibaki's camp says some of the worst offenders on graft are allied to Odinga.
Measured and non-confrontational in his public persona, Kibaki contrasts in style with the more voluble Odinga.
Incumbent President Mwai Kibaki's government has revamped the economy and analysts say his main rival that has been leading recent polls, Raila Odinga, will not make any significant change to economic policy.
The campaigns have been marred by bloodshed, most of it during internal party primaries last month to pick candidates for parliamentary seats.
Thousands of Kenyans have had to flee their homes because of the political violence, particularly around Mount Elgon and in part of Rift Valley province. Sixteen people have died.
The election is shaping up to be Kenya's closest ever. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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