Kenyans vote amid fears of corruption

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OTHAYA, (Kenya), Dec 27 (agencies): President Mwai Kibaki tried to fend off a fiery opposition leader Thursday in an election that was shaping up to be the closest in this East African country's history. Allegations of corruption - including voter intimidation and violence - have been central campaign themes, with both Kibaki and challenger Raila Odinga vowing to end the graft that has scared off foreign investment and cost taxpayers millions of dollars.
"I have not even milked my cow because today we are putting our country first," said Mary Muthoni Gikiri, who was waiting to vote Thursday at a polling station in Kibaki's hometown of Othaya, some 125 miles from the capital, Nairobi. In Kibera, one of the largest slums in Africa and Odinga's main constituency in Nairobi, thousands of people were lining up to vote amid tight security. A handful of young men were smashing windows, saying they were not listed on the voting register.
"This time around Kenyans are not the same," said Harun Owade, a 30-year-old mechanic who had been waiting in line to vote since 3:30 a.m. in Kibera, home to at least 700,000 people in a maze of potholed tracks and ramshackle dwellings. "We cannot be tricked. We will put the politicians to the test."