Kenyan presidential race heats up

Kenya's presidential race entered its final stretch Monday, with the economy, corruption and tribalism looming large in aging incumbent Mwai Kibaki's bid to secure a second term. The last batch of opinion polls before the December 27 vote gave flamboyant opposition candidate Raila Odinga a slight edge on Kibaki.
Both men were sparing no efforts, spending unprecedented amounts of money on TV, billboard, email and mobile phone campaigns, and criss-crossing the country in convoys and helicopters to gather more support.
Kenya is poised for its tightest presidential race ever, even though the differences between the two are imperceptible and observers argued that both contenders would keep the country on the path of economic prosperity.
The east African country has averaged annual growth of five percent since the 2002 polls. Kibaki, 76, has campaigned for continuity, stressing his economic achievements and measures such as free primary education.
His critics however say that he has failed to tackle corruption and push forward crucial reforms, notably a new constitution to diminish the president's powers and create the position of prime minister.
And the endorsement of former dictator Daniel arap Moi half-way through the campaign may have been the kiss of death: many critics feel Kibaki's camp reeks of the cronyism of old. As well as being president, Kibaki is Kenya's longest-serving parliamentarian.
The challenger Odinga, who spent nine years behind bars for opposing Moi, was a minister under Kibaki, is a more colourful character. The 62-year-old drives a Hummer, wears flashy clothes and is a gifted orator. But he has cast himself as the candidate of change and the champion of Kenya's poor majority.
Opinion polls indicate Odinga's charisma has mustered votes beyond his tribal constituency. But the fact that he has joined seven political parties in 15 years, has led to charges that he is a populist and an opportunist.
The third main candidate, who trails in the polls but hopes to be a kingmaker, is Kalonzo Musyoka, a 53-year-old born again Christian. None of the six other candidates is expected to garner many votes and one has already declared his support for Kalonzo.