The Kenyan government has announced it is allowing the registration of all political parties for next month's elections, including that of the controversial Safina party.

Safina, which was founded by the white conservationist Richard Leakey, appealed to Attorney General Amos Wako last month after its application for registration was turned down.

When Safina first applied for registration in 1995, it said it provided the best means of uniting Kenya's divided opposition against President Daniel Arap Moi, who has been in power since 1978.

President Moi

President Moi said Mr Leakey wanted to use Safina to re-impose colonial rule on Kenya - an accusation which Mr Leakey denied.

President Moi and the ruling Kenya African National Union (KANU) party face presidential and parliamentary elections against an opposition divided on personal and ethnic lines.

Other parties which have applied for registration include the Islamic Party of Kenya.

The party, whose former leader was the Islamic preacher Sheikh Balala, says it represents Kenya's Muslim population, which it says has been politically and economically marginalised.
 

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