Moi casts historical vote
2002-12-27 09:13
Kandui, Kenya - Outgoing Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi cast his ballot early on Friday in a landmark election that will determine who succeeds him after 24 years in power.
Moi (78) who is constitutionally barred from running in the landmark election, voted in Kandui, in the Rift Valley, in Lena Moi Primary School, named after his ex-wife.
"I want to wish good luck to whoever I hand over to. I will step down happily having completed my two terms in multiparty democracy," Moi said after placing his voting paper in the ballot box.
"I presume the challenges Kenyans face will be well handled. Kenyans are very democratic," he said.
Moi hand-picked Uhuru Kenyatta (42), the son of late founding president Jomo Kenyatta, as the presidential candidate for the Kenya National African Union party, which has ruled since independence in 1963.
Kenyatta faces stiff competetion from Mwai Kibaki (71) who is standing for the National Rainbow Coalition, an alliance of more than a dozen opposition parties.
One of Moi's sons, Gideon, was elected to parliament on a Kanu ticket unopposed in the same constituency, rival candidates having pulled out of the legislative race also being fought Friday. - Sapa-AFP
- SAPA