Kenyan Voters Hand Stunning Defeat To Old Guard
Kibaki, 71, won more than 64 percent of votes cast in last week's poll, while his KANU rival and Moi's preferred successor, Uhuru Kenyatta, garnered 29 percent.
The opposition National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) is also set to win 55 percent of seats for parliament, only 10 percent short of an absolute majority.
KANU, which ruled Kenya since independence in 1963, secured 25 percent of the parliamentary seats.
"People of Kenya should be extremely proud," U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Johnnie Carson told CNSNews.com .
"This serves as a good example to the rest of Africa," he said. "I am optimistic that the new government will move on smoothly to rectify the socio-economic mistakes of the past."
The public mood in the capital, Nairobi, and from the countryside is one of anticipation, according to reports, with expectations high for the new administration.
Voters will be watching to see whether Kibaki, an economist, delivers on campaign promises of free primary education, reduction of tax on food and a "zero tolerance" approach toward corruption.
"We are confident that the NARC government will deliver beyond the expectations," said Steve Ndegwa, a media consultant in Nairobi.
His enthusiastic optimism appeared to be shared by many on the streets of Nairobi who were celebrating the election result with singing and dancing.
"We expect the economy to grow and empower us to meet our social responsibilities," said Charles Owino, a newspaper vendor in Nairobi.
"Imagine a man like me borrowing cigarettes and being unable to take care of child delivery expenses for my wife? This is going to change," he declared.
Many rural dwellers, particularly farmers, backed Kibaki in the election, in the hope he would oversee a turnaround in a sector that accounts for 24 percent of Kenya's gross domestic product (GDP) and provides employment for more than 80 percent of the population.
Kibaki was to be sworn in as president on Monday.
Speaking earlier, he said NARC would not seek alliances with other parties to form a government of national unity.
"We have more than a working majority. It is also our intention to encourage a strong opposition to keep us on our toes," he said.
Kenyatta, the son on Kenya's founding father, Jomo, conceded defeat, and said he was ready for the new responsibilities of being leader of the official opposition.
Monitors from the European Union, the Carter Center and the Kenya Domestic Observers' Program gave the election a clean bill of health and praised Kenyans for setting an example for Africa.
"Kenya's important role as a leading African nation has been enhanced by these elections and the country's newly elected leaders should take immediate steps to fight corruption, consolidate democracy and lay a groundwork for political and economic development," the Carter Center said in a statement.
Commonwealth Observer Group chairman Adebayo Adedeji said the elections had been conducted in a responsible and orderly manner.
"The general atmosphere before and during the elections was essentially peaceful with relatively few incidents of violence reported," he said.
The end of the Moi era may see warmer relationships between Nairobi and foreign governments.
The outspoken Moi repeatedly grumbled about foreign envoys, accusing Western embassies in particular of taking sides with his political opponents.
Analysts here welcomed the change of guard, but warned that NARCs landslide victory could give rise to official complacency and the rise of a new dictatorial regime.
"The media, in particular, will have to take up the role of watch-dogging the government
and governing party with the help of civil society," wrote political columnist Kwendo Opanga.
Kenya's new parliament is likely to have the highest number of elected women in the country's history - at least nine compared to four in the last parliament.
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