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Moi's strongest challenger: Mwai Kibaki
December 28, 1997
Web posted at: 2:41 p.m. EST (1941 GMT)NAIROBI, Kenya (CNN) -- Kenya's leading opposition candidate wound down his bid for the presidency Sunday with an impassioned plea for change, delivered to a crowd of 10,000 in the heart of Kenya's capital city.
"Everything has an end, and Kenyans know that," Mwai Kibaki, head of the Democratic Party of Kenya, told his followers on the last day of campaigning. "Now is the time for Moi's end."
Kibaki, a 66-year-old businessman, is considered the candidate with the most potential to unseat President Daniel arap Moi in Monday's election. Moi has led Kenya for 19 years, and is seeking another five-year mandate.
Fourteen candidates are challenging Moi, but most polls show Kibaki leading the opposition heat. Some polls, however, still predict Kibaki will win under 20 percent of the vote, and most polls predict Moi will take 40 percent.
Kibaki profile
Kenya has no history of accurate opinion polls.
Kibaki and Moi know each other well. Kibaki served as his vice president for 10 years before their relationship turned sour.
"He became a different person, he went tribal ... closed. He just closed his mind, he became a different human," Kibaki told CNN.
Corruption the main issue
Kibaki's former association with a government widely accused of corruption could hurt him at the polls. He has made the issue of corruption, along with that of Kenya's deteriorating infrastructure, the cornerstone of his campaign.
"The main thing with corruption in Africa, not just Kenya...is it has to be fought from the top," he told CNN. "So long as the president receives bribes he cannot fight corruption. And that is where the game must begin."
Analysts say Kibaki's greatest appeal to voters may be his heritage.
In a country with 42 tribes that speak more than 30 languages and dialects, Kibaki is a Kikuyu, Kenya's largest tribe. He is widely expected to carry the Kikuyu vote, particularly since the tribe's most popular leader, Kenneth Matiba, is not seeking the presidency.
In Kenya's 1992 election, Kibaki finished third behind Moi and Matiba.
Setting himself apart from Moi's regime, Kibaki's stump speech reminds voters of the nation's economic turmoil and crumbling infrastructure.
"They've been stealing out money for the last five years," he told a crowd. "And during these years, despite all the money that's been collected in taxes, no road has been built."
A parallel parliamentary election is also being held Monday, with more than 883 candidates from 23 parties seeking seats. Kibaki has pledged to form a government with other opposition parties, but with such a fragmented vote, winning a clear majority will be difficult.
To secure a victory, a candidate must win at least 25 percent of the vote in at least five of Kenya's eight provinces.
Nairobi Bureau Chief Catherine Bond and Reuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Violence increases before Kenyans go to the polls - December 28, 1997
- Monitors fear violence, corruption may undermine Kenyan vote - December 27, 1997
- Parliament member challenging Kenyan President Moi - December 23, 1997
- Kenya dissolves parliament ahead of elections - November 10, 1997
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