– in Kenya, some of the parliamentarians who represent the ruling party, KANU, are calling for a secret ballot to chose their presidential candidate.
They say they’ll no longer vote by acclamation as they have in the past. Among those following the story is Kenyan journalist Kasuja Onyonyi. From Nairobi, he spoke with English to Africa reporter Richard Kotey about KANU members who want the nomination.
President Moi’s choice is Uhuru Kenyatta, the son of the country’s first president, Jomo Kenyatta. Another candidate, Raila Odinga, is the son of another of Kenya’s founding fathers, the country’s first vice president, Oginga Odinga.
Mr. Onyonyi said there is a hue and cry in the party over the president’s nomination because those who have expressed interest in the presidency would have liked Mr. Moi to choose them. Mr. Onyonyi said many people say Uhuru Kenyatta is not ready to be president and members would have preferred a more mature person to lead KANU.
Some of the MPs say the president’s methods are undemocratic and biased, but Mr. Onyonyi said Mr. Moi has the constitutional right to chose his successor and that is what he did.