Counting has begun in Kenya after a second day's polling.

The country's first free multi-party elections were extended into a second day after flooding and violence killed at least three people. Independent monitors have expressed grave concerns about the running of the election.

Among the dead was a four-month-old baby which fell from her mother's back and was trampled to death during a stampede.

The official Kenya News Agency said a youth supporting the ruling Kenya African National Union (Kanu) was stabbed to death on Monday morning in Alego Central in Siaya district.

BBC Correspondent, Martin Dawes: Why the election is unlikely to be a watershed (1'24")

District commissioner, Kiritu Wamae, said three people, including the baby, had died in clashes between Kanu and National Development Party (NDP) youths in Alego-Usonga constituency.

Mr Wamae said a Kanu youth was stabbed to death at Nyajuok on Sunday evening.

Another young Kanu supporter was killed on Monday when NDP youths attacked and beat up a group of women who were allegedly being given money by Kanu supporters.

There were no problems when President Moi voted

In Kenya's central Muranga district on Monday, one person was injured and three cars damaged when ruling party and opposition supporters clashed over allegations of electoral fraud.

Parliamentary and presidential elections, which are taking place simultaneously, have been affected by allegations of electoral irregularities.

Officials at some voting centres have complained that they received the wrong voting papers or that presidential, parliamentary and civic ballot forms had been mixed up.

Shortly before voting began on Monday, police arrested the Islamist preacher and opposition politician, Sheikh Khalid Balala, who had threatened to lead a campaign to disrupt the elections.

Sheikh Balala and the veteran politician, Kenneth Matiba, alleged that Kenya's President Daniel arap Moi had rigged the election process and called for comprehensive constitutional reforms before polls were held.

Voters on their way to the polling stations (5'07'')

Members of Sheikh Balala's family said that he was detained late on Sunday night in the coastal city of Mombasa, but police have not confirmed this.

Sheikh Balala returned to Kenya earlier this year after a two-year exile in Germany.

Thirteen opposition candidates are challenging President Moi, Kenya's undisputed leader for the last 19 years, who is running for his final five-year term.

Crowds cheer at a campaign rally

President Moi, who is expected to win, is the last of Africa's independence era "Big Men".

Others have retired, some fired by way of the ballot box and many, like the late Mobutu Sese Seko, have been toppled violently.

Nine million registered Kenyan voters are electing 210 parliamentary representatives and civic representatives.

But three independent monitoring groups have said violence, corruption and bias by civil servants could undermine the fairness of the elections.

Three people were killed in western Kenya on the last day of campaigning in election-related clashes, while up to 50 people have died in the last month in pre-election violence.

Opposition parties allege foul play

President Moi is campaigning hard to persuade voters that his party, Kanu, is the only true national party in a country where tribe often comes first and the economy is crumbling.

But Kanu is also the party most closely linked to corruption and violence.

Opposition leaders accused Kanu of widespread rigging and vote-buying before even a single vote was cast. They also warned that a fixed election could cause civil strife.

"Any rigging will be a sure recipe for a disaster. If Moi rigs this election, we will have to remove him using other means," presidential candidate Raila Odinga told a campaign rally in western Kenya on Sunday.

President Moi expected to get his wish

Opinion polls of dubious merit on election eve predicted a straight win for Mr Moi.

President Moi is set to be re-elected

But his nearest challenger, Mwai Kibaki, said they were not opinion polls but propaganda from President Moi.

To win, President Moi must finish in first place nationally and win 25% of the ballot in at least five of Kenya's eight provinces.

Political experts say Mr Moi's main challengers are former vice-president Mwai Kibaki of the Democratic Party; Kenya's first credible female candidate, Charity Ngilu Raila Odinga of the National Development Party; and Michael Wamalwa Kijana of FORD-Kenya.

Presidential challenger, Mwai Kibaki

But the opposition, which failed to present a credible challenge in the last elections in 1992, remains divided. And five years on, they are in an even worse position.

BBC Correspondent, Martin Dawes, says the most likely scenario is that dissatisfaction with Kanu's rule will be translated into an opposition-dominated parliament but that President Moi will still win another five-year term.

Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage	©