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GV EXTERIOR International House in Nairobi (2 shots)
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SV INTERIOR Oginga Odinga talking to newsmen(2 shots)
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SV Mr Odinga making statement (4 shots)
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ODINGA: 'I wish to take this opportunity to express my personal appreciation and support to His Excellency, President Arap Moi, together with his entire Cabinet in the manner in which he has handled the affairs of the state during this period of national grief, following the death of our beloved Father of the Nation, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.



'Wanachi equally deserve praise in demonstrating their usual Kenyan political maturity by conducting themselves with dignity and sobriety in bidding farewell to the leader they so very much loved, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.



'We have again proved wrong the prophets of doom, who always wish out country ill. We have proved that we are mature, law-abiding and God-fearing people who are quite capable of adapting to any situation.'



Sixty-seven-year old Mr Odinga is the leader of the Luo tribe, the second largest in Kenya, which dwells in the west of the country. He was vice-president under Jomo Kenyatta but split with the Kenya African National Union (KANU) to form his own party, and courted the Soviet Union. President Kenyatta had him jailed for several years. The Kenyan constitution says that only KANU members, who are members of parliament, can contest the presidency. Since Jomo Kenyatta's funeral at the end of August, every individual and group who previously had other ideas about Daniel Moi becoming the new president have followed the cabinet's lead in pledging allegiance to him. Most have endorsed him as sole candidate, leading observers to believe he will almost certainly be elected unopposed on October 6.




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Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: In Kenya, former vice-president Oginda Odinga has said he will support the appointment of acting president Daniel Arap Moi as the country's next president. Mr Odinga told a press conference on Sunday (10 September) that the appointment would benefit Kenya by ensuring a smooth and peaceful transition of power.

SYNOPSIS: The press conference was at International House in Nairobi.

Mr Odinga's surprise endorsement means that all potential rivals to Mr Moi have decided against contesting the presidency. Mr Odinga's statement was considered a farewell to his ambitions.