20120310
AFP
Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki confirmed on Friday that the country's next elections would take place early next year following a ruling by the high court.

"The court ruled that elections will be held in 2013, and there is no way I can change that," said Kibaki who is the head of a fragile unity government along with his traditional Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

"Whether I like it or not, there is no way I can change it. It will remain like that."

Kibaki was commenting after a high court ruling in January that elections should be held within 60 days of the expiry of the current parliament's mandate in mid-January 2013. However the court also said the elections could be brought forward if there was a written agreement between Kibaki and Odinga.

The president's comments appear to rule out the possibility of the elections being brought forward and he thus looks set to serve out a full five-year term before then retiring.

Kibaki came to power in 2002 but the December 2007 election was marred by widespread allegations of fraud. Violence that erupted after the polls led to the death of more than 1,100 people and saw more than 600,000 displaced.

The violence was finally brought to a halt when Kibaki and Odinga were persuaded by mediators to form a unity government which has managed to remain in place despite coming under frequent strain.