Kenya election race heats up
2007-09-03 11:09
Nairobi - The campaign for Kenya's December presidential election moved up a gear after weekend opposition primaries decided who would be incumbent Mwai Kibaki's top two challengers.
The 75-year-old president, who had been praised for his country's economic recovery, was tipped by opinion polls to win a second and final mandate after Kenya's 14.5 million registered voters were called up.
His stiffest challenge could come from Raila Odinga, a flamboyant 62-year-old member of parliament and former minister, who comfortably won the nomination of his Orange Democratic Party (ODM) on Saturday.
After protracted and bitter wrangling in opposition ranks, Odinga last month defected from the ODM-Kenya party, which picked Kalonzo Musyoka as its candidate on Friday.
Re-introduction of pluralism
While the opposition entered the final stretch before the polls in disorderly fashion, the presidential camp was also beset by divisions and Kibaki had yet to announce the banner under which he would run.
His ruling National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) had been emptied of key figures that left in protest at what they said were unfulfilled pledges.
With no more candidates expected to toss their hats in the ring, Kenyans would pick president from the smallest number of candidates since the re-introduction of pluralism in 1992.
David Makali, a political observer, said: "The die is cast and the race in now on, people are on their marks. I don't see any realignments after the parties elected their candidates."
Although no date had been set for the presidential, legislative and local polls, government and opposition had long started canvassing the country to secure votes from the traditionally most contested regions.
Kenyans urged to extend confidence
The mass circulation Daily Nation in its Sunday editorial, wrote: "We are well into the high season of politics."
The opposition primaries also marked the first time that political party card-holders elected their presidential flag-bearers, who used to obtain their nomination automatically as party leaders.
Kibaki was believed to have clinched a crucial edge by securing the support of former president Daniel arap Moi, who dismissed ODM as a tribal-based movement and urged Kenyans to extend their confidence to his erstwhile deputy.
But political analyst Kwamchetsi Makhoha argued Moi's embrace could be the kiss of death for the incumbent.
He said: "It is a liability because Moi has a corruption baggage. Moi's endorsement is seen as an extension of corruption."
Moi's 24-year kleptocratic leadership nearly sunk East Africa's strongest economy and the ageing former dictator brought a whiff of scandal to Kibaki's campaign after a report charging that he siphoned a billion dollars out the country was leaked last month.