Party splits to end 25 years of Moi rule over Kenya

Almost 25 years of dominance by Kenya's President, Daniel arap Moi, ended yesterday when his ruling party split in two and a powerful opposition coalition to unseat him was announced at a massive Nairobi rally.

At least 80,000 people thronged into the city centre to Uhuru Park to witness the birth of a "super coalition" composed of former cabinet ministers, Moi officials and the entire opposition leadership.

The crowd, mostly young men, sang, danced and frequently interrupted the speeches with chants of "Without Moi, everything is possible" in one of Kenya's largest rallies since the advent of multiparty democracy in 1992.

The grouping, known as the National Rainbow Coalition, promised to defeat President Moi's controversial choice of successor, Uhuru Kenyatta -- the son of Kenya's first President after independence, Jomo Kenyatta – at December's presidential elections.

"We are making history here in Uhuru Park," declared Raila Odinga, a former Moi official dressed in a leopard-print shirt and garlanded in tinsel, who led the rally. "And we will be in government next January."

Meanwhile, in a sports hall on the other side of Nairobi at a more subdued meeting of the ruling Kenya African National Union (Kanu) party, President Moi confirmed Mr Kenyatta as his chosen successor. In his acceptance speech, Mr Kenyatta vowed to "serve the nation with devotion".

President Moi, 79, denied that his party had been split in two, describing the rebels as a group of discontents who were losing popularity. But while Kanu has long been seen as an unstoppable election juggernaut, the truth is that the party that has ruled Kenya since independence in 1963 has never appeared more vulnerable.

In the past two months the Vice-President, George Saitoti, five ministers and a slew of the party's top brass have left in protest at President Moi's support for Mr Kenyatta, 41.

Many political figures were unhappy that their own presidential ambitions were being stifled, while among ordinary Kenyans there is widespread suspicion that Mr Kenyatta, who has little political experience, could be a stooge for the interests of Kenya's notoriously corrupt elite after President Moi's retirement.

After several weeks under the "Rainbow Alliance" moniker, the rebels formalised their break yesterday and announced the formation of a new party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

At the rally, the LDP boasted of a "super alliance" with almost every other opposition party. The new grouping pledged to present a single candidate to defeat Mr Kenyatta at the December poll.

Although no candidate was announced, the alliance's leader, Michael Wamalwa, told The Independent that Mwai Kibaki had already been agreed and that his candidature would be announced this morning.

In past elections President Moi has masterfully manipulated Kenya's tribal rivalries to prevent the opposition from challenging him with a united front. This time, his enemies are saying it will be different.

Charity Ngilu, the opposition leader, told the crowd: "Yes, all of us would have been interested in being President of Kenya. But now we are working as a team. The positions we get will not matter."

The rally was marked by a sense of anger with the corruption and economic failures that have characterised President Moi's rule. One man carried a placard that read: "Milosevic – some Kenyans are joining you in The Hague soon."

James Mwangi, an unemployed man, said: "Today is a working day and we are supposed to be employed. But look at all the people that are here." On the grass beside him sat three glue-sniffing street children, a sign of the social breakdown that has accompanied sharp economic decline.

In recent weeks, a spirit of defiance has seized Kenya. Ten days ago, Mr Moi was jeered and heckled at a rally in his hometown of Eldoret. There were no clashes between government and opposition supporters yesterday. But many fear that the coming elections may be scarred with the violence that has marred previous polls.

Mutahi Ngunyi, a political scientist, said: "People can see the light at the end of the tunnel. They think it is hope for change. Then again, it could also be an oncoming train."