KENYATTA ARRIVES AR PARLIAMENT BUILDING; GREETED; MP'S PREPARE FOR PHOTOGRAPH; KENYATTA TAKES SEAT; GROUP DISPERSES; KENYATTA ENTERS BUILDING; SPECTATOR; KENYATTA'S CAR LEAVES.




Initials JB/VS/JF/MH



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Background: WITH GENERAL ELECTIONS EXPECTED SHORTLY IN KENYA A GROUP PHOTOGRAPH HAS BEEN TAKEN OF THE PRESENT PARLIAMENT AND PRESIDENT JOMO KENYATTA HAS CALLED A MEETING OF THE RULING KENYA AFRICAN NATIONAL UNION TO DISCUSS FINAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ELECTIONS.

NO DATE HAS YET BEEN ANNOUNCED FOR THE ELECTIONS BUT KENYA'S INFORMATION MINISTER, MR. OSOGO, HAS SAID THEY WILL BE HELD IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.

PRESIDENT KENYATTA TOLD MEMBERS OF THE KENYA AFRICAN NATIONAL UNION PART TO AVOID PERSONAL ANIMOSITY DURING THE COMING ELECTIONS.

HUNDREDS OF CANDIDATES ARE EXPECTED TO CONTEST THE 158 PARLIAMENTARY SEATS IN THE PRIMARIES. CIVIL SERVANTS AND SCHOOL TEACHERS HAVE BEEN RESIGNING FROM THEIR POSTS TO TAKE PART IN THE ELECTIONS.

MR. OSOGO SAID THAT THE KENYA AFRICAN UNION WOULD SHORTLY PRODUCE A MANIFESTO GIVING ITS ELECTIONS PLEDGES.

THE ELECTIONS WILL BE THE FIRST GENERAL ELECTIONS IN KENYA FOR SIX YEARS. AT PRESENT THE KENYA AFRICAN UNION IS THE ONLY POLITICAL PARTY IN THE COUNTRY BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT PRESCRIBED THE OPPOSITION PARTY, THE KENYA PEOPLE'S UNION, LAST WEEK, AND ITS LEADER, MR. OGINGA ODINGA, AND THE PARTY'S OTHER SEVEN MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, WERE DETAINED.

MR. OSOGO SAID THAT IF NO OTHER POLITICAL PARTY WAS REGISTERED BETWEEN NOW AND THE ELECTIONS, CANDIDATES ELECTED IN THE PRIMARIES WOULD BE ABLE TO GO STRAIGHT INTO PARLIAMENT.