From: barnhart@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Mr. Aaron Barnhart)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Subject: IPS:KENYA: OPPOSITION PARTIES READY TO END MOI'S RULE
Date: 12 Nov 92 21:39:02 GMT
Article-I.D.: ddsw1.BxMHH2.2LB
Organization: Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A.

Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: KENYA: OPPOSITION PARTIES READY TO END MOI'S RULE


an inter press service feature

by horace awori

nairobi, nov 5 (ips) -- although determined to end the 14-year
rule of president daniel arap moi through the ballot, kenya's
main opposition parties are not pleased with the process set for
the first multiparty elections in 26 years.

the parties have reacted angrily to the snap presidential and
parliamentary elections scheduled for dec. 7.

announcing the long-awaited election date on tuesday,
electoral commission chair zachariah chesoni said parties had
until nov. 11 to complete nomination of presidential,
parliamentary and civic candidates.

under normal circumstances, the kenyan law provides for a
21-day period for parties to nominate candidates.

describing the government election plan as ''fraudulent'',
kenya social congress (ksc) leader george anyona has urged the
electorate and all opposition parties to boycott the polls
because the deadline fixed for nominations ''is illegal''.

''we cannot take part in fraudulent elections. doing so is to
perpertuate dictatorship and to bring chaos to this country'',
anyona, a ksc presidential candidate, told ips.

he said chesoni was ''just acting as a proxy for moi who has
already prepared himself for the election and now gives an
impossible deadline for other parties''.

''by giving the nov. 11 deadline, chesoni gives the
impression that the nomination process has been going on, but
the process legally began nov. 4. his deadline is therefore
illegal.

''is moi not rigging the election already? how can we have
free and fair elections when the law and regulations governing
the process are ignored and flouted so openly?'' asked anyona.

insisting that it was time for moi to give up the presidency,
anyona, who for some time was a political detainee in kenya,
said:

''since we do not have impeachment measures in our
constitution, i call upon all oppositions parties and various
pressure groups to come together and form a national coalition
which should form a transitional government''. (more/ips)


kenya: opposition (2)

but former kenyan vice president oginga odinga, who leads a
wing of forum for restoration of democracy (ford)-kenya, says
his party will ''comply with the almost impossible regulations
the government keeps announcing in order to put obstacles in our
path''.

''ford-kenya is used to impediments being put in its way'',
odinga told ips.

''we shall try, as we have tried in the past, not to allow it
(government) to deflect us from the just and true path we have
charted for ourselves, and for the bruised and battered people
of this country.

''the fact is that the kanu government is employing tricks to
ensure that kenyans are deprived of the very freedom of choice
we have been fighting for'', said the ford-kenya leader.

according to odinga, ford-kenya has formed a five-member
national nominations committee which by nov. 10 would have drawn
up a list of the party's candidates for civic and parliamentary
elections. he said none of the committee members would seek
nomination.

meanwhile, the democratic party (dp) and the other wing of
ford have brushed aside anyona's call for a boycott of the
elections.

''we know the elections will be rigged by moi and that is why
we want observers and monitors from all over the world to come
and see what we are talking about'', martin shikuku, ford-asili
secretary-general, told ips.

dp chair and presidential aspirant mwai kibaki says, despite
the short notice, ''we are ready for the elections. this is no
time to complain but to get down to work''.

despite the misgivings expressed by opposition leaders about
kenya's constitutional process to multiparty elections, many
kenyans are not likely to let slip this opportunity which may
lead to installation of a popular government.

complaints raised so far in the run-up to the polls concern
registration of voters which some opposition circles say has
been done secretly to ensure only supporters of the ruling kenya
african national union (kanu) will vote.

government has yet to appoint a director of elections and the
registers of voters have not been made available for public
inspection.

''the kenyan voter can still throw out moi despite all his
tricks and attempts to rig the election even before it is
held'', kibaki, a former vice president under moi, told ips.
(end/ips/ha/ar/92)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african