- Title: KENYA: President Mwai Kibaki hopes for peaceful referendum
- Date: 4th August 2010
- Summary: NAIROBI, KENYA (AUGUST 3, 2010) (REUTERS) WIDE VIEW OF JOURNALISTS WAITING FOR A NEWS CONFERENCE TO START PRO-CONSTITUTION OFFICIAL ANYANG NYONG'O WALKING TO THE PODIUM WHILE TAKING HIS SEAT (SOUNDBITE) (English) ANYANG' NYONG'O, PRO-CONSTITUTION OFFICIAL, SAYING: "This is an extremely important time in the history of our republic. It is a time that may come once in th
- Embargoed: 19th August 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Kenya
- Country: Kenya
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVACAIYPP7K3RX9X67KT58DZUFHD
- Story Text: Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki addressed the nation on Tuesday (August 3), appealing for calm ahead of a referendum.
Citizens are due to vote Wednesday (August 4) on a new constitution - the first national election vote since 1,300 people were killed in the ethnic bloodshed caused by a disputed presidential poll in 2007.
"Let us all go out and vote peacefully. Thereafter let us get back to undertaking the urgent work of nation building and creating opportunities for our people in this great land we call our home," Kibaki said, in a televised address.
Kenya has been waiting for a new constitution for the past 20 years to address problems that have plagued its post-colonial history -- corruption, political patronage, land grabbing and tribalism.
A previous attempt to change the constitution through a referendum in 2005 failed when it was rejected by voters as the then-government was divided prompting Kibaki to sack all the ministers who were against the constitution.
He has now joined efforts with current Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who was previously his opponent in the 2007 campaign.
At a news conference in Nairobi, pro-constitution official Anyang' Nyong'o described the upcoming event as "an extremely important time."
"It is a time that may come once in the lifetime of many Kenyans and therefore it is a time that must indeed be carefully and properly used," he said. "We appeal for peace, we appeal for calm, we appeal for brotherhood of all Kenyans."
The Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC), which replaced a previous electoral body that was accused of botching the count during the 2007 vote, will use electronic technology in recording the ballots to guard against "cheating and other malpractices."
With just hours to go to the start of voting at 6 a.m. (0400 GMT) rising tribal tensions in some parts of the country -- notably the Rift Valley, which was hard hit by he post-election violence -- prompted some residents to flee their homes.
Authorities have said those fleeing are haunted by past skirmishes, but there was unlikely to be violence this time.
A total of 63,400 police officers have been deployed to the country's 27,689 polling stations. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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