E-Clips:- Business Pictorial - UK Media Lambast Kibaki Over Anglo Leasing Deals

The leading media in Britain have roundly criticised the government of President Mwai Kibaki for almost the first time since it came to power in December 2002.

A combination of political riots last week over the constitution and the scandal over the passport contract involving Anglo Leasing led some members of the UK press to question whether the government was returning to the bad old days of the former Kanu government.

According to the authoritative Financial Times newspaper, the constitutional reform protests were "reminiscent of the fight between pro-democracy activists and the autocratic regime of former President Daniel arap Moi, though less well attended."

The UK newspaper said that the political disturbances had alarmed Western diplomats and made many believe that "the future of the ruling coalition is now at stake."

The influential Economist magazine also ran an item on the issue last week under the heading "Kenya reforms seem to stall," in which it asked whether the government was "in danger of losing its way."

The BBC indicated that "allies" of President Kibaki within the ruling coalition were to blame for the showdown, pointing out that "a constitution review body earlier this year recommended the creation of a prime minister and the reduction of presidential powers.

"The constitution has deeply divided the ruling NARC coalition and led to a government shake-up. After coming to power in December 2002, President Kibaki promised to introduce a new constitution within 100 days but the deadline was put back to June 30 this year before being again postponed."

BBC correspondent Ishbel Matheson added that, in Kenya, "the public faith in the administration has been seriously undermined." In an extensive report in the Guardian, the newspaper said that the Anglo Leasing scandal had now "cast a shadow over the Kenyan government.

"The integrity of the government is facing its first real test with investigations being launched into two multimillion pound projects. The episode is proving an embarrassment to President Kibaki who pledged to combat the corruption that disfigured the regime of Mr Moi.

"The US, the European Union and Japan said that international aid was at risk unless there were detailed investigations into the corruption still at the heart of government."

Moreover, aside from influencing Western aid support to Nairobi, the riots will also make businesses wary of investing while the future political direction of the country remains unclear.