President Daniel arap Moi has accused Kenya's Electoral Commission of attempting to rig the country's ongoing elections in favour of the opposition.

Officials of President Moi's ruling Kanu party say that the Commission had ensured that there was a shortage of ballot papers in their traditional strongholds of support.

President Daniel arap Moi voted, then accused his officials of fraud

Kenyan state radio also quoted the President as saying he was "extremely unhappy" with the conduct of the commission and that it should take full responsibility for the chaos affecting the polls.

However, Kanu National Executive Officer, Geoffrey Kathurima, ruled out the possibility of the elections being annulled."There won't be another election," he said.

Government's claims rejected

While the first results have already been declared, voting is continuing for a second, unscheduled day in some areas to make up for widespread electoral irregularities on Monday.

When voting began many polling stations had been supplied with the wrong ballot papers, while others had none at all. President Moi's claims are being disputed by opposition parties who accused him of attempting to rig the election even before the first vote was cast.

BBC Correspondent ,Kathy Jenkins, on the electoral chaos in Kenya (1'16")

BBC Africa correspondent, Kathy Jenkins, also says there is no evidence to support President Moi's accusations against the Commission, whose members he appointed.

Such is the atmosphere of mistrust that opposition politicians kept up an overnight virgil in polling stations to ensure police or electoral officials did not tamper with ballot boxes. They are also now scrutinising the vote counting.

The elections have also been marred by floods and political violence which have claimed at least three lives.

First result

Both parliamentary and presidential polls are being contested in Kenya's second free elections. The first result announced was the return of opposition MP, John Michuki, to the National Assembly with a comfortable majority, state-owned KBC radio said.

Opposition politicians are closely scrutinising the count

The radio said the FORD-People candidate won his Kangema constituency in Central Province with 17,701 votes, beating the 4,308 cast for the Kanu candidate, Naftali Ngeru.

It said there was a 77% turnout in the constituency, which has a registered electorate of 29,189. The rest of the ballots were all spoiled, it added. President Daniel arap Moi faces a host of candidates in the presidential race, while more than 800 candidates are vying for the 210 elected seats in the National Assembly.
 

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