I accept defeat - Uhuru Kenyatta

2002-12-29 14:55

Nairobi, Kenya - Uhuru Kenyatta, outgoing President Daniel arap Moi's handpicked successor, conceded defeat on Sunday to veteran opposition leader Mwai Kibaki in historic Kenyan elections that marked an end to the Kenya African National Union (Kanu's) party's 39-year grip on power.

"I accept the choice of the people and in particular now concede that Mwai Kibaki will be the third president of the republic of Kenya. Kanu and I will respect him in his position in accord with our constitution... Kanu will play its rightful role in parliament to assure the rights of our people are respected," Kenyatta told reports and some cheering supporters.

Kenyatta accepted that he and Kanu had lost to Kibaki, a 71-year-old economist, and his National Rainbow Coalition alliance that were ahead by a 2-to-1 margin after nearly all the votes had been counted.

Kanu has ruled this once prosperous east African nation since independence from Britain in 1963.

The opposition alliance, dubbed NARC, also won a majority of the 210 elected seats in parliament, handing Kanu a further humiliation.

NARC is made up of at least 10 opposition parties and a number of former Kanu stalwarts.

Kenyatta (41) is a son of the country's first president - Jomo Kenyatta - but has just over a year's experience in government. On the eve of the election, he predicted a sweeping Kanu victory. After winning a seat in parliament, he will become head of the official opposition.

Moi (78) is constitutionally obliged to step down at the end of his current term. As vice president, he became president on Kenyatta's death in 1978. On Saturday, he repeated an earlier promise to hand over power peacefully to whomever won. - Sapa-AP

- SAPA