Kenya opposition threatens to stop elections

NAIROBI, Feb 17 (Reuters) Kenyan opposition parties and civil society groups threatened today to mobilise the masses to stop elections later this year if their demands for constitutional reform were not met.

About 2,000 people singing anti-government slogans, beating drums and carrying placards reading ''No Reforms, No Election,'' rallied in the capital's Uhuru Park to push for reforms such as preventing government interference in Kenya's electoral body.

Presidential and parliamentary elections are expected to take place in east Africa's biggest economy in December and opposition leaders say that without a new constitution, the country is not ready for the ballots.

''Kenyans will storm parliament to pass the reform package ... we are talking of mobilising millions of Kenyans to stop the elections,'' Cyprian Nyamwamu, the head of a civil body spearheading the push for reforms, told the crowd.

''We have resolved that the next election should be conducted as a free and fair election and the reform package must be passed in parliament by April 15, 2007.'' The government formed a committee to look at the demands for reform but this was boycotted by opposition leaders who believed its intentions were not genuine.

President Mwai Kibaki swept into office in December 2002 vowing to deliver a new constitution within 100 days. The review process all but died after a government-backed draft was rejected in Kenya's first ever referendum in November 2005.

''Kibaki has failed the test so he should go. He promised Kenyans a new constitution, zero tolerance to corruption and jobs but he has not delivered,'' said Raila Odinga, a presidential aspirant for opposition party coalition Orange Democratic Movement-Kenya (ODM-K).

The protesters also want the president's powers trimmed, affirmative action for women and for the president to be elected by winning more than 50 percent of the votes cast. Under the current system, the candidate who receives the most votes wins.

Independent polls show Kibaki -- who has hinted strongly he will stand for re-election -- is the most popular possible presidential candidate. Analysts say he will face a tough fight if the ODM-K manage to unite behind one person.

REUTERS AB RN2337