- Kenya's outgoing leader Mwai Kibaki has strongly spoke against electoral violence, fearing it might interfere with the voting patterns.
President Kibaki, who is seeking a second mandate in office, believes Kenyans should freely elect leaders of their choice without intimidation. He therefore warns that campaign troublemakers of facing the full force of the law.
Kibaki's message was particularly directed to the youth, exhorting them to desist from being used by politicians to perpetrate acts of violence against their opponents. He said Kenyans are politically mature to make informed choices in the elections, irrespective of violence.
Kibaki advises Kenyans not to allow a one day event to become their source of enmity because even after elections they still need to remain cohesive.
President Kibaki utters the comments at Katangi market in Yalla district as he tours parts of Ukambani.
"The general election is an important exercise that would determine the future of this country, and we would like all Kenyans to participate in this exercise so as to chart their own destiny," Kibaki says, calling on people to turn out massively to cast their votes. He says the increase in the number of polling stations will ease the voting exercise.
Kenyan leader says the essence of voting had been negated by voter apathy in the past.
Polls survey describes the Orange Democratic Movement candidate Raila Odinga as the favourite of the December elections.
But President Kibaki is appealing to electorate to allow him another term of office so as to seal his development programme. He says his experience and commitment to improve the country have qualified him to serve another term of office.
"When we came to office over four years ago, the country's economy was at its lowest ebb with key sectors registering negative growth and major industries had collapsed but now things have changed and the country's future looks bright," President Kibaki said.
President Kibaki used the tour to launch distilling works at Katangi Dam as well as commission the Mwala and Masii dams and Makutano-Lema electricity line. He however dispelled the notion that the development plans are apolotical - they are part of the ongoing government development plans.
"We shall continue with a sustained programme to develop all corners of the country even after the elections, and those linking these efforts to the elections are misguided."
President Kibaki discloses that his government will build more waterpoints in the largely semi-arid area to make clean water available to the people.
Turning to rural electricifation, Mr Kibaki expresses the government's commitment to the course that spurs development of small scale industries.
He asked youths to tap the youth and women enterprise development funds by submitting viable projects to the government.
The Kibaki government has been praised for introducing free primary education, but the Kenyan leader assures the introduction of similar measure in secondary schools next year.
His government's critics have been blaming it for its failure to stamp out endemic official corruption in the country.
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