A round-up of Kenyan media reports prior to Monday's presidential and parliamentary elections:

Moi calls on police to curb election violence

Excerpts from report by Kenyan radio

President Daniel arap Moi today called on the police to move swiftly at the earliest opportunity to curb violence associated with the current election campaigns.

The president said the police had the means to know in advance situations that could erupt into violence or even plots for such acts of lawlessness.

President Moi particularly deplored last weekend's violent attack on KANU [Kenya African National Union, ruling party] candidate for Rangwe constituency [Nyanza Province], Mrs Phelgona Okundi, by the National Development Party [NDP] candidate Dr Shem Ochwodho.

President Moi said he could not personally comprehend why the NDP candidate could get to such extent while traditionally men are supposed to protect women and children.

President Moi was addressing a mammoth campaign rally at Homa Bay stadium in Homa Bay District [Nyanza Province].

The president said he hoped the Electoral Commission had taken the necessary action against those NDP supporters who also burnt Mrs Okundi's car during the attack.

He once again reiterated his appeal for KANU supporters countrywide to conduct their campaigns peacefully because KANU stood for peace and not violence...

The president said the next five years will be very important for this country because many things will be done including the constitutional review...

During the function President Moi received two leading NDP politicians and their supporters who defected to the ruling party, KANU.

The two are Mr Dalmas Odiero who was an aspiring NDP candidate for Rangwe constituency and Mr Bismas Adieda, the NDP branch secretary in the area...

Source: KBC radio, Nairobi, in English 1300 gmt 26 Dec 97

Electoral commission extends campaign by one day

Text of report by Kenyan radio

Election campaigns end on Sunday, 28th December 1997 and not tomorrow [27th December] as earlier announced.

Similarly the issuance of duplicate voters' cards ends on Sunday, 28th [December]. The cards will only be issued to registered voters who have lost their cards or whose cards have been rendered unserviceable in one way or the other.

Source: KBC radio, Nairobi, in English 1300 gmt 26 Dec 97

Electoral commission investigates bribery allegations

Text of report by Kenyan KTN TV

The Electoral Commission is investigating reports of rampant bribing of returning officers in some parts of the country to employ presiding officers and clerks.

The commission chairman, Samuel Kivuitu, said if the allegations are confirmed, the officers will be replaced.

He said the practice is most prevalent is Eastern Province, adding that these areas have not had adequate training of the commission's personnel owing to frequent changes.

At the same time, Kivuitu said he had received complaints from the National Development Party [NDP] claiming that some people are buying voters cards and identity cards and destroying them.

He said NDP highlighted Lang'ata constituency [in Nairobi] and asked the commission to take action. However, Kivuitu referred the matter to the police commissioner saying it is an offence to destroy an identity card or an elector's card.

Source: KTN TV, Nairobi, in English 1000 gmt 26 Dec 97

Eight seriously injured in election violence in west

Text of report by Kenyan KTN TV

Election violence in Kakamega District [western Kenya] continues unabated as evidenced at three rallies, which were this evening disrupted by rival political groups.

In Malava Constituency, three supporters of outgoing [Kenya African National Union, KANU, ruling party] MP Joshua Angatia were attacked with machetes and left for dead at Ekoli [phonetic] market when they disagreed with Ford [Forum for the Restoration of Democracy]-Kenya supporters.

In Shinyalu Constituency, outgoing MP [KANU] Japheth Shamalla and his bodyguards were forced to draw their guns after rowdy youths disrupted his rally at Shibuli, while in Lugari a pitched battle between Lugari KANU candidate Cyrus Jirongo and Walwanda Washiko of Ford-Kenya left five people seriously injured in the stone-throwing incident.

Source: KTN TV, Nairobi, in English 1800 gmt 25 Dec 97

BBC Monitoring (http://www.monitor.bbc.co.uk), based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.
 

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