Kibaki calls for reconciliation

2007-12-30 20:34

Nairobi - Kenya's freshly re-elected President Mwai Kibaki called for national reconciliation in his swearing in address on Sunday, following an election marred by allegations of vote rigging.

Kibaki said: "I call upon all candidates, all Kenyans to accept the verdict of the people. With the election behind us, it's time for national healing.

"I urge all of us to set aside the divisive views we held during the campaign period and embrace one another as brothers and sisters. After all, we belong to one family called Kenya."

The swearing in ceremony started less than an hour after the electoral commission announced he had defeated opposition leader Raila Odinga.

Odinga has accused Kibaki of stealing the victory through systematic rigging of the tallying process.

Riots

The result's announcement immediately triggered riots in bastions of Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) in Nairobi and western Kenya.

"I thank all Kenyans who voted in large numbers in these elections. I thank all of you for the trust you have bestowed upon me in renewing my mandate, which I accept with sincere gratitude and humility," said Kibaki, who is also Kenya's longest-serving parliamentarian.

"With the elections behind us now, I assure them that as President of Kenya, I will serve everyone equally, irrespective of the person they may have voted for," he added.

A high-octane campaign followed by the controversy that surrounded the tallying fostered already entrenched tribal divisions in the east African nation.

Kibaki is from the Kikuyu tribe, which is the largest in the country and has dominated the country economically and politically in recent years.

Many Kenyans eager to bring an end to "Kikuyu rule" had rallied behind Odinga, whose Luo tribe is smaller.

"I urge all of us to set aside the passions that were excited by the election process, and work together as one people with the single purpose of building a strong, united, prosperous and equitable country," Kibaki went on.

One survey conducted during the campaign said that tribalism was the main factor considered by Kenyans when picking their candidate for the presidential election.

- AFP