As unofficial results from Kenya's flawed elections showed President Daniel arap Moi (73) in the lead with nearly half the vote counted, the government yesterday told the opposition to accept the eventual results or face the consequences. A government statement said police would "deal swiftly and firmly" with anyone who tried to disturb the peace.
The statement was issued a day after opposition leaders, Mr Mwai Kibaki and Mr Raila Odinga, said the East African country was edging towards civil strife and they would not accept a result giving Mr Moi victory.
The president, one of Africa's last "Big Man" leaders, is seeking a final five-year term after 19 years in office. His opponents have charged that corruption and mismanagement are ruining Kenya.
Aides seemed confident that Mr arap Moi would top the poll and collect the required 25 per cent of the vote in at least five of the eight provinces.
Kenya entered the New Year in a state of high tension, three days after the general elections on December 29th, which political parties and neutral observers have condemned as a shambles.
The Electoral Commission said voting was continuing yesterday in at least 10 Kenyan constituencies affected by floods.
All the flood-affected constituencies were strongholds of the ruling Kenya African National Union (Kanu) Party in the last elections in 1992.
The opposition contenders were not conceding despite charges that Kanu and the commission had rigged the elections.
But yesterday Mr Kibaki, of the Democratic Party (DP), Mr arap Moi's closest challenger in all unofficial tallies, and Mr Odinga, of the National Development Party, toned down their earlier warnings of civil strife.