KENYATTA DRIVES INTO STADIUM: INSPECT GUARD OF HONOUR: LEADS CHAT: CROWD.




Initials SAW/VS/MR/PS



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Background: KENYA'S PRESIDENT JOMO KENYATTA ADDRESSED A RALLY AT NYERI YESTERDAY ( SATURDAY ) SHORTLY AFTER ANNOUNCING THE DISSOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT, BUT HE DECLINED TO REVEAL THE DATE OF THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AT RUCINGU STADIUM ABOUT 60 MILES (95 KMS) FROM NAIROBI HEARD PRESIDENT KENYATTA CONDEMN TRIBALISM. HE SAID THERE WAS ONLY ONE KENYA FOR ALL KENYANS.

ON FRIDAY (NOV 7) PRESIDENT KENYATTA ANNOUNCED THE DISSOLUTION OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. THIS CLEARS THE WAY FOR KENYA'S FIRST GENERAL ELECTIONS SINCE 1963.

ALTHOUGH PRESIDENT KENYATTA DID NOT ANNOUNCE THE DATE OF THE ELECTIONS AT THE RALLY, AN ESTIMATED 1,000 PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO CONTEST THE 158 PARLIAMENTARY SEATS IN THE FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS.

AT PRESENT THE RULING KENYA NATIONAL AFRICAN UNION (KANU) IS THE ONLY PARTY IN THE FIELD FOLLOWING THE BANNING OF THE OPPOSITION KENYA'S PEOPLE UNION (KPU) LAST WEEK. THE KPU WHICH HAS ONLY EIGHT MEMBERS IN PARLIAMENT, WAS BANNED WHEN IT WAS CHARGED THAT THE KPU WAS TRYING TO OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT AND HAD ENGAGED IN SUBVERSIVE CORRESPONDENCE WITH CERTAIN FOREIGN DIPLOMATS IN EAST AFRICA.

PRESIDENT KENYATTA WARNED LISTENERS AT THE RALLY NOT TO VOTE FOR THOSE WHO BOUGHT THEIR VOTES WITH BEER. SUCH CANDIDATES AIMED AT ENTERING PARLIAMENT TO FILL THEIR OWN POCKETS AND DID NOTHING FOR THE PEOPLE, HE SAID.