Kenya's Kibaki Launches Re-Election Bid

President Mwai Kibaki

Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki launched his re-election campaign on Sunday, unveiling a new political alliance to fight a December poll for the leadership of east Africa's largest economy.

"I will seek re-election as President of the Republic of Kenyan under an alliance that we have named the Party of National Unity," he said in a live address.

The veteran 75-year-old politician, who took power in 2002 on another now defunct coalition, is leading opinion polls.

Flanked by allies and cheered by crowds outside, Kibaki listed achievements in his first term as free primary education, health improvements, and road construction. "Things are getting better but we are far from where we want to be," he said.

"I will therefore be seeking support of all Kenyans so as to continue making our country an even better and greater home."

Kibaki had been without a party since the demise last year of the National Rainbow Coalition, which gave him victory five years ago after the 24-year rule of President Daniel arap Moi.

Though mud was tossed at Moi the day he handed over power, Kibaki was once his vice-president for a decade and the pair have grown closer again in the last two years.

Last month, Moi endorsed Kibaki's re-election bid.

The official leader of the opposition, Uhuru Kenyatta, has also pledged support, and was at Kibaki's side on Sunday.

An opposition coalition also split in mid-August.

"Everything is working to his advantage at the moment, but I am still not sure it's cut-and-dry," said Kenyan analyst George Ogola, a lecturer at Britain's University of Central Lancashire.

Kibaki still faces a formidable threat from opposition front-runner Raila Odinga, a charismatic former ally turned critic who heads the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and has the near-total support of his large Luo tribe in western Kenya.

Odinga was out of the country on Sunday, but close ally Najib Balala told Reuters the president's new coalition would have no impact. "The (ODM) ship has left the dock and set sail. Nothing can turn it back," he said.

advertisement

In the most recent national opinion poll, Kibaki, who has Kenya's largest tribe, the Kikuyu, behind him, led with 42 percent, versus 26 percent for Odinga.

Kibaki was to head straight to Odinga's Luo heartland after his speech for three days of official visits and rallies.

Another opposition candidate not to be dismissed is Kalonzo Musyoka, a lawyer and former foreign minister heading the Orange Democratic Movement-Kenya (ODM-K).

Odinga and Musyoka split last month even though all analysts said their best chance of unseating Kibaki was to stay together and put up one candidate.

Though popular for free primary education and good economic growth, Kibaki gets low marks from voters for failing to stem graft or improve pot-holed roads and other infrastructure.

But with power-play and tribalism taking precedence over ideology in Kenyan political circles, Kibaki's speech was sure to herald an intense period of political jostling.

Analyst Ogola said he expected plenty more political re-alignment, and possible new coalitions, prior to the vote.

"More worrying is not whether Kibaki will be re-elected or not, but the absence of political ideology in Kenya," he said. "Someone talked about political parties being like matatus (minibuses). If you don't get on one, you just jump on another.