KENYA: Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki submits nomination papers for upcoming elections, speaks to massive crowd of supporters

Record ID: 361362

  • Title: KENYA: Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki submits nomination papers for upcoming elections, speaks to massive crowd of supporters
  • Date: 15th November 2007
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF PNU SUPPORTERS WAITING FOR KIBAKI OUTSIDE ECK HEADQUARTERS VARIOUS OF PNU SUPPORTERS ON THE STREETS
  • Embargoed: 30th November 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVABIMXNSNXA8N0TX15PTGH4T894
  • Story Text: Kenyan president, Mwai Kibaki, became the last presidential nominee to hand in his nominations papers to the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) on Thursday (November 15). Four other contenders for presidency handed in their papers on Wednesday (November 14). Kenya will go to the polls on December 27.
    Kibaki is seeking re-election for a second term under a coalition party - the Party of National Unity (PNU).
    After signing documents, Kibaki asked Kenyans to shun violence during elections and referred to instances where women aspirants were beaten up.

    "Election campaigns will take place without fear cohesion, intimidation or reprisal and being concerned with the alarming increase of incidence of electoral violence during election campaigns these year and more so those perpetrated against women," said Kibaki.
    Kibaki's main contender for president is Raila Odinga, wealthy scion of his Luo tribe's most prominent family, and paints himself as a champion of the poor and the alternative to a government he says failed to deliver its 2002 election pledge of eliminating corruption.
    In the latest Steadman poll, Odinga's lead narrowed to 45 percent, with Kibaki tallying 41 percent and Musyoka 15 percent.
    Kibaki has urged Kenyans to look at his government's record of development and economic growth against what his opponents' did while they were in government -- which he says is little more than make unrealised promises.
    Both Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka, who is a distant third in the polls, were in Kibaki's cabinet before the president fired them in 2005 after they fell out over a new constitution.
    Though campaign season has been in full swing for months, Wednesday's formalities signal the official campaign period up to the Dec. 27 polls -- dubbed the Home Stretch by Kenyan media.
    Campaign ads have multiplied in recent days. On Wednesday leaflets equating Odinga's plan for federalism -- majimbo in Kiswahili -- with death popped up all over the capital Nairobi.
    Though all candidates favour bringing more power to the local level, polls show that most Kenyans reject majimbo as having the potential to instigate ethnic violence and resurrect the tribal segregation imposed under colonial rule.
    Kibaki's nomination for presidency coincided with his 76th birthday.
    PNU Supporters sang happy birthday after he walked out from ECK headquarters
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