Nairobi, Sunday
KENYA'S three main opposition parties met today to form an alliance to
block President Daniel arap Moi from taking over power after victory in
the first multi-party elections in 26 years.
Officials said the leaders from the opposition Ford-Asili, Ford-Kenya
and the Democratic Party of Kenya (DP), who have rejected the results of
last Tuesday's polls, were ''working . . . to block Moi without causing
civil strife''.
They said differences which split the opposition leaders before the
elections had resurfaced and they were now quibbling over who should
lead the new alliance.
The leaders of the three main opposition parties which challenged the
ruling Kenya African National Union (Kanu) have rejected results
returning Moi to power.
Only a handful of results are still awaited. Latest returns gave Moi
1.8 million votes to a combined 3.2 million for the three main
opposition leaders. The three parties also took just under half the 188
seats in Parliament.
The High Court prevented elections in five constituencies because of a
petition by opposition candidates who said they were physically
prevented from presenting their nomination papers.
''They are forming an alliance against Moi. They believe they
represent the majority of Kenya's voting population and their say is
substantial,'' a senior DP aide said.
''After rejecting the results, they have to reach a programme of
action their supporters must follow without recourse to violence,'' the
aide added.
University academics say without recourse to ''civil disobedience''
the opposition leaders have no way of forcing their will if they do not
take their seats in parliament.
DP secretary-general John Keen said it would be wrong for opposition
chiefs to call for violence ''because had they united earlier they would
not have fallen at the polls''.
The Commonwealth's poll monitors criticised the government and
National Electoral Commission for widespread irregularities in the
electoral process but fell short of rejecting them.
It has asked the government and the opposition to reach an agreement
to avert impending crisis.
''It is my earnest hope, and that of the entire Commonwealth, that
following the election, Government and political leaders will find ways
to work together for the peace, health, prosperity, and unity of
Kenya,'' said Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku.
His statement was issued a day before Anyaoku flew to the capital for
talks with all sides to defuse tension.
Moi has dismissed their allegations and vowed to crack down on any
opposition attempts to foment unrest.
Nairobi and other urban centres were back to normal after a week
dominated by the elections. Most commercial and business houses in the
capital are expected to reopen tomorrow.--Reuter.
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