Line up: Kenya presidential candidates
2013-03-01 13:51
Nairobi - Eight Kenyan presidential candidates are preparing
for March 4 elections, the first since deadly post-poll violence five years
ago.
While two main candidates - Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga
- dominate the race, all eight candidates have potential influence, especially
if voting goes to a second round runoff after the March 4 vote.
Uhuru Kenyatta: Influential, hugely wealthy and son of
Kenya's founding president, the 51-year-old deputy prime minister faces trial
immediately after the election for crimes against humanity in the International
Criminal Court (ICC).
Hailing from the Kikuyu people of central Kenya, Kenyatta's
running mate in the Jubilee Coalition party is former arch-rival William Ruto,
who also faces trial at the ICC for violence following the 2007 elections.
Raila Odinga: Former communist turned powerful businessman,
the 68-year-old prime minister is a leading contender, having joined hands with
long-time foe, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka. He told AFP in an earlier
interview he was confident of a first round triumph.
A powerful negotiator, he led a relentless and colourful
campaign last time round, but was piped by President Mwai Kibaki in a
controversial vote-tallying process that sparked the violent protests. Odinga,
who comes from the Luo people of western Kenya, leads the Coalition for Reforms
and Democracy (CORD) party.
Musalia Mudavadi: Leader of the United Democratic Forum
(UDF), the deputy prime minister is a former running mate of Odinga in 2007
polls. This time round, the political chameleon briefly joined Kenyatta's
party, hoping to lead it, but later split to run alone after his bid failed.
The 52-year-old comes from western Kenya's Luhya tribe, and
his supporters could be key in a second round vote.
Martha Karua: A lawyer and former justice minister, she was
once a staunch supporter of outgoing President Mwai Kibaki and his policies
until her resignation in 2009, citing interference in the discharge of her
duties.
The 55-year old Kikuyu is the only female candidate. Brought
up in a humble rural area of central Kenya, she was appointed a magistrate aged
24, before becoming an MP a decade later. She is campaigning for government and
judicial reform.
Peter Kenneth: One of the youngest candidates, 47-year-old
Kenneth stresses his mixed ethnicity presents a "tribeless
candidate". A junior government minister, his coalition brings together
his Kenya National Congress (KNC) party and the Party of Action (POA).
James ole Kiyapi: An academic and forestry expert who has
taught at both Kenyan and international universities, the 51-year-old former
senior civil servant heads the Restore and Build Kenya party.
Paul Muite: Lawyer and civil rights activist, 67-year-old
Muite is a founding member of one of Kenya's first opposition political
parties. A Kikiyu, as a lawyer he represented former Mau Mau fighters - who
once battled British colonial rule in the 1950s - to obtain compensation from
the British government.
Mohammed Abduba Dida: A 40-year old teacher from Kenya's
ethnic Somali population. Little known before campaigning began, he has gained media
popularity after a series of quips during presidential debates.
- SAPA
