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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Ex-rival backs Kibaki re-election | Ex-rival backs Kibaki re-election |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Kenya's official opposition leader Uhuru Kenyatta has said he will not contest December's presidential poll. | Kenya's official opposition leader Uhuru Kenyatta has said he will not contest December's presidential poll. |
| Mr Kenyatta said the former ruling Kenya African National Union (Kanu) would instead seek an alliance with President Mwai Kibaki. | Mr Kenyatta said the former ruling Kenya African National Union (Kanu) would instead seek an alliance with President Mwai Kibaki. |
| But Kanu, which ruled Kenya for 40 years, says it will field its own parliamentary and local candidates. | But Kanu, which ruled Kenya for 40 years, says it will field its own parliamentary and local candidates. |
| Mr Kenyatta, son of Kenya's first president Jomo Kenyatta, lost the 2002 election to Mr Kibaki. | Mr Kenyatta, son of Kenya's first president Jomo Kenyatta, lost the 2002 election to Mr Kibaki. |
| This is the first time in the country's political history that the official opposition party will not contest the presidency. | This is the first time in the country's political history that the official opposition party will not contest the presidency. |
| "I can't just vie for the sake of vying. I can only do so when sure of winning," the Daily Nation newspaper quotes Mr Kenyatta as saying. | "I can't just vie for the sake of vying. I can only do so when sure of winning," the Daily Nation newspaper quotes Mr Kenyatta as saying. |
| Split | Split |
| BBC East Africa correspondent Karen Allen says the decision by Kanu, the country's oldest party, is a significant boost to Mr Kibaki. | BBC East Africa correspondent Karen Allen says the decision by Kanu, the country's oldest party, is a significant boost to Mr Kibaki. |
| There is a serious shortage of principle Musalia Mudavadi, ODM However, the party has been split by internal wrangles. | There is a serious shortage of principle Musalia Mudavadi, ODM However, the party has been split by internal wrangles. |
| Kanu had been a part of the opposition Orange Democratic Movement-Kenya (ODM) but Mr Kenyatta pulled out of the coalition after a fall-out with Kanu's secretary-general William Ruto. | Kanu had been a part of the opposition Orange Democratic Movement-Kenya (ODM) but Mr Kenyatta pulled out of the coalition after a fall-out with Kanu's secretary-general William Ruto. |
| Mr Ruto remains a member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). | Mr Ruto remains a member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). |
| Another faction, led by former party power-broker Nicholas Biwott, also broke away from Kanu because it was opposed to the party joining ODM-K, which split from ODM. | Another faction, led by former party power-broker Nicholas Biwott, also broke away from Kanu because it was opposed to the party joining ODM-K, which split from ODM. |
| Fragmented | Fragmented |
| ODM and ODM-K leaders have condemned Mr Kenyatta's decision to back President Kibaki, and say he has betrayed Kenyans' trust. | ODM and ODM-K leaders have condemned Mr Kenyatta's decision to back President Kibaki, and say he has betrayed Kenyans' trust. |
| ODM's vice-presidential candidate Musalia Mudavadi says the move heralds the death of Kanu. | ODM's vice-presidential candidate Musalia Mudavadi says the move heralds the death of Kanu. |
| "Kanu is on the way to winding itself up. It manifests a very serious dilemma in Kenya's political landscape and that there is a serious shortage of principle," he said. | "Kanu is on the way to winding itself up. It manifests a very serious dilemma in Kenya's political landscape and that there is a serious shortage of principle," he said. |
| Former President Daniel Arap Moi, who still wields a lot of influence in Kanu, last month announced that he was backing President Kibaki's re-election bid. | Former President Daniel Arap Moi, who still wields a lot of influence in Kanu, last month announced that he was backing President Kibaki's re-election bid. |
| Opposition parties in Kenya have fragmented in recent months with the biggest presidential challenges coming from former cabinet ministers Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka. | Opposition parties in Kenya have fragmented in recent months with the biggest presidential challenges coming from former cabinet ministers Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka. |
| For the 2002 poll, Mr Kibaki headed a broad alliance, including Mr Odinga, to defeat Kanu and Mr Kenyatta but this has since fractured. | For the 2002 poll, Mr Kibaki headed a broad alliance, including Mr Odinga, to defeat Kanu and Mr Kenyatta but this has since fractured. |