Slip of the tongue earns announcer a slap in the face from Kenya's first lady

[emad]

Kenya's famously hot-tempered first lady slapped a government official in front of dozens of dignitaries during an independence day event after he introduced her using the name of President Mwai Kibaki's second - and unacknowledged - wife.

Hundreds of officials, including the president, vice president and diplomats, sat stunned as Lucy Kibaki was introduced as "first lady Mama Lucy Wambui". Mary Wambui is widely believed to be the president's second spouse, although his office had repeatedly denied this.

According to the Standard newspaper, Mrs Kibaki immediately rose from her seat on the dais "and briskly walked to the MC, whom she slapped across the face". Security guards removed the official, who works in the office of the president, and a new master of ceremonies was found.

Cameramen and photographers covering the event were forced to delete their footage of the incident, which threatens to embarrass the president just two weeks before he seeks a second term in a tightly contested general election.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/kenya/story/0,,2227396,00.html

ASPIRING US 2008 presidential wannabes take note!