Reading between the lines: is Kibaki throwing in the towel?

Media reports indicate that president Kibaki could be throwing in the towel. On Tuesday, during a campaign tour of Ukambani, Kibaki made it clear that he would accept the verdict of voters in the upcoming General Election to be slated, for the first time ever, before Christmas. Said the President: “ The time has come for you voters to decide. If you think that I deserve another term, I will say thank you so much, but if you say I go home in preference to somebody else, I will do so in dignity.”

This is a sudden departure from his usual arrogant and self-confident demeanour, most noticeable during the Referendum campaigns, when he made the regrettably infamous "pumbavu" statement. As we all know, Kenyans were offended at being reffered to as "pumbavu" and paid him with his own coin by showing him who the real "pumbavu" was.

ODM flag bearer Raila Odinga came under attack at various stages in the rally, with leaders accompanying the President cautioning voters against trusting him with their votes. But the leaders, who included Ministers John Michuki and Kivutha Kibwana and outgoing MP Adelina Mwau tactfully avoided portraying ODM-Kenya candidate Kalonzo Musyoka negatively.