Kibaki assures US of peaceful Kenya election

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has held talks with President Kibaki at State House Nairobi.

Ms Clinton, who arrived at State House at 11am Saturday for the one hour meeting, said the two leaders had a comprehensive discussion on various matters including humanitarian issues, development, security, governance, the imminent elections and the Somalia situation.

President Kibaki said Kenya was preparing for the first General Election under the new Constitution slated for March 4, 2013, which he said would be peaceful.

"So much has happened since you last visited Kenya in 2009. What, however, stands out above all other developments is the promulgation of our new Constitution in August 2010," President Kibaki said.

He reassured Kenyans and the international community that the process of implementing the constitution was on track as all the necessary laws prescribed for the first two years have been passed.

President Kibaki restated government’s commitment to ensure a transparent, free and fair election devoid of violence witnessed during the 2007/2008 post election violence

"The new Constitution offers a lot of hope for our country and we are therefore all committed to its full implementation." 

Ms Clinton appreciated the frontline role Kenya has continued to play to stabilise Somalia and the Horn of Africa, pledging her government support to such initiatives.

She said the US will support Kenya’s efforts to upgrade the UNEP offices, in the spirit of the Rio+20 Conference at the forthcoming UN Heads of State Summit set for New York in September this year.

On the regional level, President Kibaki noted that the insecurity posed by the disintegration of Somalia to Kenya’s economic interests and its people prompted the government to send troops across the common border.

“Tremendous progress has been made in liberating Somalia from extremist and terrorist forces and we are all looking forward to the end of the transitional period this month," he said.

He urged the US to play a lead role and mobilise the international community in the re-construction of a peaceful and secure Somalia.

The President welcomed the decision by the U.S Congress to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) preferential trade programme by three years.

The President said the move will secure thousands of jobs for Kenyan workers in the textile sector.

During the discussions, President Kibaki also welcomed America’s new strategy towards Sub-Saharan Africa unveiled by President Barrack Obama in June this year focusing on the Continent’s economic potential to open up new avenues for strategic partnership for prosperity.

He expressed gratitude to the Obama administration for extending assistance through the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief programme that has augmented the government efforts to address the HIV and Aids pandemic.

The talks were attended by Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, Cabinet ministers Sam Ongeri, Yusuf Haji, Eugene Wamalwa and Attorney General Prof Githu Muigai and acting head of public service Francis Kimemia, among other senior government officials.