Electoral Chief Says Kibaki Rejected Proposals for Fair Poll

The Chairman of the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK), Samuel Kivuitu, has said that President Mwai Kibaki declined to approve ECK proposals that would have guaranteed a free and fair contest in last year’s presidential election, thereby exposing the vote to loopholes that minified its credibility. Kivuitu said the ECK had proposed a complete reform of the electoral system with new provisions concerning the appointment of electoral commissioners and the final announcement of poll results.