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Kibaki Political hunt in Gusii

And while on the campaign trail in Kisii yesterday, the President said Kenya will never revert to a Majimbo system of government.

"It will never happen - those who are saying so are dreaming," President Kibaki said. The Majimbo (federal) system of government has been proposed by ODM presidential candidate Raila Odinga and his ODM-K counterpart, Mr Kalonzo Musyoka. And the Shirikisho Party, which is supporting the President's re-election, has also been rooting for federalism.

But yesterday, President Kibaki said: "Kenya is for Kenyans and it will never be divided on those lines and the Parliament we have today, as informed as it is, will never pass a vote on majimbo."

His predecessor, Mr Daniel arap Moi who was campaigning for him in North Rift also spoke out against federalism.

Mr Moi who was in Tinderet said introducing majimbo would be a recipe for chaos.

"Time for honeymoon for ODM is over and the party should face the reality and stop telling Kenyans that the country will adopt majimbo system," Mr Moi said.

Experimented

Under the system proposed by Mr Odinga, at least 40 per cent of the national Budget was to be set aside for provinces.

Kenya experimented with majimboism at independence 44 years ago where every province had its own government with regional presidents. The regions had also collected taxes and made their own budgets but the system failed because some regions could sustain themselves.

However, the two Orange parties are yet to release their manifestos giving details on what kind of federalism they would adopt if they win the December election.

And yesterday, President Kibaki declined to create a new province with headquarters in Kisii. He said he would only promise what he was able to deliver. He was responding to demands by a crowd at the Gusii Stadium.

The formation of a province requires parliamentary debate.

However, the President elevated Kisii District Hospital to provincial status and instructed Health assistant minister Wilfred Machage and PS Hezron Nyangito to ensure that the directive was implemented.

President Kibaki urged the Gusii community to identify an area to build a banana processing factory and a milk processing plant.

"Whoever proposes majimbo for this country is living in the past. The present Kenya requires integration and coordinated development," the President said.

Ford People leader Simeon Nyachae, who is backing the President's re-election, asked Kenyans to reject ODM since it planned to scrap the provincial administration.

Gatundu South MP Uhuru Kenyatta said visionary leaders knew that President Kibaki was the candidate of choice for Kenyans as he had developed the country within a short period.

Solid foundation

He said President Kibaki had initiated a solid foundation of development and urged Kenyans to vote for him.

Mr Kepher Abong'o, the regional coordinator of the Vijana na Kibaki lobby group said youths from the area would rally behind the President.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that the life of the current Parliament could end tomorrow if President Kibaki implements his latest - and strongest - hint that he could dissolve the House.

Speaking in Kisii where he addressed a series of meetings and created a new Borabu District, President Kibaki said there were two pending Bills on the agenda of the august House before it could be dissolved: One was the Finance Bill which contains the various ways through which the government seeks to collect taxes and raise revenue to run its operations until next June that expected to be enacted this afternoon. The other was a health-related Bill.

Once they are passed, the President could invoke his constitutional powers to end the life of the ninth Parliament. If he does that tomorrow, it will increase the prospects of a General Election being held before Christmas.