Police have shot dead a parliamentary candidate running in Kenya's upcoming elections, state radio has reported.

John Oyare, who was standing for the governing Kenya African National Union (Kanu) party, was killed when he tried to prevent police arresting a robbery suspect in the western town of Kisumu, the radio said.

Mr Oyare reportedly used his car to block a police vehicle then tried to grab a gun from one of the policemen and was shot during a struggle.

The election, to be held on December 29, is the second multi-party poll since independence in 1963.

President Moi

President Moi's party has been in power for more than 30 years, making Kenya virtually a one-party state.

As the election enters its final days, violence has broken out throughout western Kenya, a stronghold of the opposition party, the NDP.

On Friday, police fired tear gas after clashes broke out at an election rally for President Moi.

Six people were reported to have been seriously injured in the fighting. Shops and bars were looted as supporters of the Kanu party clashed with National Democratic Party activists at Homa Bay in Nyanza Province.

A Kenyan newspaper, The Nation, reported that two opposition party officials also were murdered on Friday.

The victims, campaign managers for the Safina party and the Kenya Social Congress, were allegedly ambushed and murdered by supporters of the Kanu in separate incidents in the Nyanza Province.

Campaigning was due to end on Saturday but the Electoral Commission extended the deadline for an extra day.
 

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