REAL DEMOCRACY has a better chance to transform Africa after weekend elections produced a political earthquake in Kenya. Sick and tired of four decades of growing poverty and corruption, voters turned against the ruling party and elected a new president, who campaigned on economic reform, technical modernization and universal primary education.

At his inauguration yesterday, President Mwai Kibaki made it clear he will insist on new rules. "I will start my government with officials who I will expect to declare their wealth," he declared. "My government will also give the Anti-Corruption Act more powers to prosecute offenders."

Those promises produced a shock. Key officials of the bloated civil service bureaucracy said they would resign and probably leave the country so as not to be sitting targets for an anti-corruption drive.

Kenya's founding president, Jomo Kenyatta, instituted a personality cult and one-party state. His successor, Daniel arap Moi, dealt further heavy blows against transparent democracy and governmental honesty, enriching his inner circle and seeking self-glorification instead. That's why it's reassuring that 71-year-old President Kibaki announced he will not want to adorn Kenya's worthless currency with his portrait or have public buildings named after him.

Despite his landslide victory, President Kibaki faces tremendous challenges. Angry voters want reform - from more jobs and public services to an eradication of cronyism - which cannot be delivered overnight. Indeed, there are those who argue that corruption has become so ingrained in Kenya over the past four decades that it may be impossible to root out.

At the beginning of his term, President Kibaki will have two important things going for him. Crucial foreign donors, who were appalled by the dishonest and erratic Moi government, can count on better cooperation and more focused goals. Also, while Mr. Kibaki's wide-ranging National Rainbow Coalition may be prone to schisms later on, at least initially it gives the president 123 of the 197 seats in parliament.

As a former British colony, Kenya has always had closer ties to London than to Washington. However, the East African country is a pivotal partner in the fight against terrorism. That's why it is a relief that it now has an experienced and thoughtful chief executive, whose goal is internal progress and stability.