Kenya announces date for polls
July 13 2007 at 01:11AM
Nairobi - Kenya will hold its fourth general election in December, President Mwai Kibaki said on Thursday, adding that he would even like to see it held sooner.
Some members of parliament had proposed delaying what should be one of the closest races ever in east Africa's biggest economy until February.
"That is out of the question," Kibaki told an agricultural show in the central town of Nakuru. "The elections will be held in December. Period."
Kibaki unseated long-time leader Daniel arap Moi by a landslide in 2002. He has since won support among many Kenyans for launching free primary school education and reviving a stagnant economy.
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'These people need to stop asking for more time'
The nation of 36 million recorded economic growth of 6.1 percent last year, compared to 0.6 percent when Kibaki took office.
Opponents accuse his government of trying to manipulate December's vote by denying voters identity cards in opposition areas.
They also question the impartiality of the electoral commission, saying he appointed most of its members.
"These people need to stop asking for more time... In any case, if we were to change the date, we would bring it forward because there are many important things we would like to see happen in December," Kibaki said in Swahili.
"However, because the date had already been set, we will leave the December date as set this time around."
