(Refiles to fix typo in paragraph 22)

By David Schlesinger and Barry Moody

NAIROBI, July 12 (Reuters) - A leading Kenyan presidential hopeful accused the government on Thursday of trying to manipulate this year's general elections by denying voters identity cards in opposition areas.

Former political prisoner and cabinet minister Raila Odinga also criticised the ruling coalition's plan to create 30 more constituencies before polls due in December, saying it was a ploy to ensure a parliamentary majority.

"I fear the signs are not very encouraging for free and fair elections," Odinga told Reuters in an interview.

"The government plans to increase the number of constituencies in their areas because they fear they may win the presidency and lose the parliamentary elections."

Odinga also cast doubt about the impartiality of the country's electoral commission, saying most of its commissioners had been appointed by President Mwai Kibaki.

"The government may use some unorthodox means to try to rig itself back into power," he said.

Government spokesman Alfred Mutua dismissed Odinga's comments as "preposterous".

"This government is not interested in stealing elections," he said. "The 30 new constituencies are long overdue."

"They have been in the planning for the past 10 years. It's parliament that is pushing for the introduction of these new constituencies ... not the government."

'HEALING PHASE'

Kenya's fourth multi-party polls are shaping up to be one of the closest races ever in east Africa's biggest economy.

Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement-Kenya (ODM-K) hopes to mount a strong challenge against Kibaki, who has won support among many of Kenya's 36 million people for introducing free primary school education and reviving a stagnant economy.

But an acrimonious contest for ODM-K's presidential nomination has exposed cracks in the party that formed as a movement in 2005 to oppose a government-backed constitution.

"I am pretty confident that at the end of it, whether we nominate through consensus or through a delegate system, the party will unite," Odinga said, pledging to support whoever wins the ODM-K ticket.

"There will be a healing phase and the party will be able to face the election as one movement."

With a penchant for flashy cars -- a blue Jaguar parked outside his Nairobi office and a Hummer H2 truck rolled out for rallies -- Odinga looms large on Kenya's political scene.

His father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga was a former vice-president and hero of Kenya's independence struggle.

Odinga himself is credited with being the architect behind Kibaki's landslide victory in 2002, bringing with him votes of his large Luo tribe. But the two fell out after Kibaki allegedly reneged on a deal to make Odinga prime minister.

Odinga led a successful campaign to block a new constitution Kibaki backed at a November 2005 referendum. Then the roads minister, he and most of his current colleagues in ODM-K were fired as ministers for breaking ranks with Kibaki.

Political analysts say the perceived betrayal by Kibaki after 2002 has fuelled Odinga's determination to shake off his "kingmaker" reputation and fight his way to State House.

In an office dominated by a painted portrait and a golden bust of himself, the would-be president said the government's economic achievements had been modest.

Kenya recorded economic growth of 6.1 percent last year compared to 0.6 percent when Kibaki came to power in 2002.

"We have not attained (double-digit growth) basically because we have not managed to rein in the corruption. There has been no trickle-down effect at all," Odinga said.

He called for more investment in critical sectors such as infrastructure, manufacturing and information technology.

AlertNet news is provided by