Kenya's opposition splits ahead of election-media

NAIROBI, Aug 15 (Reuters) Kenya's main opposition coalition has split into two factions ahead of a presidential election in December, boosting President Mwai Kibaki's chances of re-election, local media said today.

After months of feuding between opposition presidential aspirants Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka, the pair have parted ways to lead the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and Orange Democratic Movement-K (ODM-K) respectively.

Odinga, a firebrand former political prisoner, is running second to Kibaki in opinion polls.

The president is popular among Kenyans for introducing free primary education and presiding over healthy economic growth, but receives low marks on corruption and poor infrastructure.

There had been speculation that Musyoka, a former foreign minister and lawyer, could ally with Kibaki.

The opposition pair had sought to paper over their obvious differences in recent months as each jostled for the main opposition presidential ticket.

Today, the Daily Nation quoted Musyoka as calling Odinga ''a coward'' and wishing him ''good riddance''.

REUTERS AE MIR RAI1338