Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki says he will ensure a peaceful handover of power when he steps down from office next year.

During an address to parliament Tuesday, the president said Kenya must observe the rule of law before, during and after the planned elections.

He appealed to the country's political parties to promote national interests, and not those of an individual or the party.

Mr. Kibaki's disputed re-election in late 2007 led to weeks of ethnic violence which left 1,300 people dead and displaced more than 300,000 others.

Two of the country's top presidential hopefuls, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and former minister William Ruto, are suspected by the International Criminal Court of organizing and funding the post-election chaos.

Mr. Kibaki is not running for re-election.