Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki on Saturday told those aspiring for leadership positions in the country to be patient because elections would not be due until the end of the year.

Addressing a meeting of local leaders in Nyeri district, Kibaki said Kenyans should not be dragged into premature election campaigns, noting that there were development priorities that need to be implemented in the course of the year.

Kibaki has recently suggested on two occasions that he was to seek a second term. The election is traditionally held in December, but the local media is speculating a snap poll.

Kibaki in the meeting also reaffirmed his government's commitment to intensifying security around the country, and called on Kenyans to work closely with the security forces in order to clamp down on criminals, who he said must not be allowed to remain in the midst of society.

According to the local Nation daily, a wave of gun crime has hit Kenya in the past three months, leading to the death of at least 50 people, including 20 policemen.

Source: Xinhua