20100723
africanews

NAIROBI (Reuters) - A majority of Kenyans intend to vote for a new constitution next month, although land remains a divisive issue in the province that bore the brunt of post-election violence in 2008, opinion polls showed on Friday.

Angered by corruption, land ownership scandals and powerful politicians, Kenyans look set to approve the new legal framework on August 4 to replace a constitution that has been in use since independence from British colonial rule in 1963.

A random countrywide survey of 6005 people conducted in July by pollster Synovate showed that 58 percent would vote "Yes", while 22 percent were against the draft constitution and 17 percent were undecided. The rest said they would not vote.

Results by another pollster, Infotrak Research and Consulting, showed 65 percent of the 2,500 respondents would vote for the law, 25 percent would vote against it and 10 percent were undecided.

There are 12.7 million registered voters in east Africa's biggest economy, and Synovate's poll showed about 91 percent planned to cast their vote on the constitution.

Uncertainty over the outcome of the referendum and whether the divisive atmosphere in Kenya will lead to violence have been weighing on the east African country's currency.

Synovate said only three percent of those polled feared violence would flare up before or after the referendum. But analysts were divided over the likelihood of violence.

"There has to be some violence, this is likely before and after the vote. It is likely that it will be short but intense," said political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi.