KENYA'S PRESIDENT JOMO KENYATTA YESTERDAY (23 NOVEMBER) TOLD A RALLY OF THOUSANDS OF CHEERING PEOPLE IN UHURU PARK IN NAIROBI THAT THE CANDIDATES IN NEXT MONTH'S GENERAL ELECTIONS SHOULD CONDUCT THEIR ELECTION CAMPAIGNS PEACEFULLY AND IN A SPIRIT OF SPORTSMANSHIP. HE WAS SPEAKING A DAY AFTER BEING ELECTED UNOPPOSED FOR THE SECOND TIME AS PRESIDENT OF KENYA.

PRESIDENT KENYATTA ADDED:"THOSE DEFEATED SHOULD TAKE COURAGE AND WILLINGLY GO BACK TO THEIR HOMES AND CARRY OUT THEIR DUTIES IN THE NORMAL WAY".

A TOTAL OF 611 CANDIDATES WILL CONTEST THE 158 SEATS IN KENYA'S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IN THE ELECTIONS ON 6 DECEMBER.

WEARING ALIGHT-BROWN SUIT AND A WINE-RED JERSEY, PRESIDENT KENYATTA HELD IN HIS HAND A COPY OF THE RULING KENYA AFRICAN NATIONAL UNION'S PARTY MANIFESTO FOR THE ELECTIONS.

THE PRESIDENT URGED CITIZENS TO ELECT THE RIGHT PEOPLE WHO WOULD WORK TO ACHIEVE THEIR REQUIREMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE KANU MANIFESTO. HE SAID ANY CONTESTANT WHO DEVIATED FROM THE MANIFESTO WOULD BE EXPELLED FROM THE PARTY AND HIS ELECTION NULLIFIED. (KANU IS AT PRESENT ALONE IN THE FIELD FOR THE ELECTIONS).

HE WARNED AGAINST FALSE PROMISES MADE BY SOME PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES, WHO, HE SAID, WENT SO FAR AS TO PROMISE FREE LAND TO THEIR SUPPORTERS.

THE PRESIDENT STRESSED THE NEED FOR KENYANS TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THEMSELVES NOW THAT THEY WERE FREE. THEY SHOULD DISCARD THE 'INFERIORITY COMLEX' THAT MANY CITIZENS STILL HAD EVEN SIX YEARS AFTER THE ATTAINMENT OF INDEPENDENCE, HE SAID.

THE PRESIDENT SAID THAT THE KANU MANIFESTO DEALT ADEQUATELY WITH THE NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS OF KENYANS ON EDUCATION, LAND, HEALTH, COMMERCE, AND INDUSTRY, AND AFRICANISATION. IT WAS THE GUIDING LINE THAT SHOULD BE FOLLOWED BY THE GOVERNMENT FORMED AFTER THE ELECTION.

AT THE START OF HIS SPEECH PRESIDENT KENYATTA PLEDGED TO SERVE THE NATION FAITHFULLY AND DO ALL THAT WAS HUMANLY POSSIBLE IN HIS SECOND TERM AS PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC.