Kenyan candidates make their final campaign bids

Kenyan presidential hopefuls have made their final bids to woo voters on the last day of campaigning for the tightly fought March 4 elections.Thousands of supporters danced to the tune of music in central Nairobi for rallies of the top two Frontrunners, Raila Odinga, prime minister, and rival Uhuru Kenyatta, deputy prime minister.At Nyayo national stadium, supporters of the prime minister, who has made three previous bids for the presidency, “will tell you categorically they think he will win outright”, said Al Jazeera’s Nazanine Moshiri of the attitude at the Odinga rally.This certainty, said our correspondent, is due to the far-reaching base supporters of Odinga believe their candidate holds.Supporters believe Odinga can secure the vote in the coastal city of Mombasa. As Odinga’s running mate, it is believed Kalonzo Musyoka can help him earn the eastern vote. The west, Odinga’s heartland, is also seen as going in his favour, said our correspondent.At Uhuru Park, Kenyatta supporters were equally fervent in support of their candidate.Al Jazeera’s Mohammed Adow, reporting from Uhuru Park, said “the crowd is getting thicker by the moment as people from all around Nairobi gather” to await the arrival of their preferred candidate.Despite the overwhelming crowd of red at the park, our correspondent said Kenyatta supporters hope their candidate will secure a clear majority of the votes to avoid a runoff.“If the elections go to the second round, there is the likelihood of Odinga [triumphing],” said Al Jazeera’s Adow.Agencies