Tide of optimism ends disastrously in Kenya

When Mwai Kibaki was first elected president of Kenya in 2002, hopes were high that he could end corruption. But this African fairytale has turned into a horror story and the cause is all too familiar: vote-rigging.

In 2002, amid what the BBC describes as a "tide of optimism", Mwai Kibaki was elected president of Kenya after the 24-year rule of the unpopular Daniel arap Moi.

Hopes were high that his government could end corruption and rejuvenate the economy and indeed, in the past five years, Kenya has established itself as "east Africa's most energetic and diverse economy", says the FT, with a strong manufacturing base, fast-growing telecoms, financial and horticulture sectors, and a reputation as a safe tourist destination.

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