Kenya's Moi seeks to prolong rule

President Moi is barred from standing in the next election

NAIROBI, Kenya -- President Daniel arap Moi has called for an extension of his final term in office to allow elections to be held under a new constitution.

But the move has provoked anger from the opposition and flies in the face of calls by the U.S. and Britain for a general election to go ahead as planned. (U.S., UK call for prompt polls)

Delaying the ballot would extend Moi's second five-year term -- his last under the present constitution -- by as much as a year.

Speaking at a dinner on Friday night to celebrate the merger of his ruling KANU party with the largest opposition party, Moi, 77, said he supported KANU legislators who wanted to extend the parliament's current session until the drafting of a new constitution.

The Constitution of Kenya Review Commission announced earlier this year that it would not be able to finish its work on schedule and that a new Kenyan constitution would not be ready until 2003. Under the current constitution, elections are required by the end of 2002.

Moi has ruled Kenya since 1978, but term limits were only introduced with the 1992 election.

Moi's statement Friday night directly contradicts statements he made earlier this month that the general election should go forward as scheduled and that he would retire.

Moi's official Presidential Press Service said on Saturday that Moi called the merger with the National Democratic Party an important step toward unity for all Kenyans. He said KANU, which has ruled Kenya for 38 years, was best equipped to lead the country and would win a landslide victory.

Kenya was a one-party state until Moi, under pressure from the international community, allowed multiparty elections in 1992. Opposition parties, though, have been splintered and KANU has maintained control of the country.

The merger of KANU and the National Democratic Party was a major blow to the three other opposition parties, which have not formed a united front in the race against KANU.

The opposition has promised civil unrest in the coffee- and tea-growing nation of 30 million if KANU pushes ahead with the move.

When ruling party lawmakers first proposed the idea of extending parliament last week, the U.S. and British embassies issued statements roundly condemning the proposal, insisting that the elections be held in 2002 as planned.

"We are concerned that a delay in Kenya's election timetable could create uncertainty and a bad precedent for democratic reform in the region," a U.S. embassy statement said.

The British High Commission said Britain would not "sit quietly" if it appeared KANU was serious about its plan and not merely floating the proposal to test reaction.

"The ruling party are provoking our worst fears," High Commission spokesman Mark Norton said. "We still want the elections held this year. We will not sit quietly if there is a serious proposal to amend the constitution."

He added: "It's something we think is dishonest -- to use the constitution to extend the parliament. People have a right to vote every five years. People cannot give up that franchise and parliament cannot take it away from them."

Many Kenyans want the new constitution in place before elections because they say the current one favours the ruling KANU by giving the president enormous powers. But at the same time most do not want the elections postponed, analysts say.