In March 1966 a left-wing faction of the governing Kenya African National Union (KANU) instigated a mass defection from the party and formed the KPU. KANU responded by amending Kenya's constitution to force a 'little general election' in which KPU was only able to win parliamentary seats among the Luo people in Nyanza province, whereas its candidates in then Kikuyu-dominated Central province were trounced by KANU.There followed three years of political harassment and detention of party leaders that finally brought about the end of the party when the New Nyanza General Hospital was opened on October 25, 1969. The president Jomo Kenyatta was not excited about the hospital, since it was built with Soviet money and seen as Odinga's project. Kenyatta did, however, lead the opening ceremonies of