US keen to work more closely with Kenya on infrastructure

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President Kenyatta and the envoy also discussed the subject of direct flights between Kenya and the US, whose preparation, she said, is at final stages.
On Somalia and the related issue of repatriation of refugees from Kenya, the envoy said the US was on the same page with Kenya.
President Kenyatta made the request for coordination of military aid to Somalia last month when he held a meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in Brussels, Belgium.

The United States is keen on working more closely with Kenya on infrastructure development, US top diplomat for African Affairs, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, has said.

In a meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House, Nairobi, on Friday, Ms Thomas-Greenfield assured of America’s continued support to Kenya.

President Kenyatta and the envoy also discussed the subject of direct flights between Kenya and the US, whose preparation, she said, is at final stages.
Ms Thomas-Greenfield, who was accompanied by US Ambassador Robert Godec during the meeting at State House, said the process of clearing Kenya Airways to fly to the US is at the final stage and the first flight could take off before the end of the year.
The US will also continue supporting Kenya to transform its economy, she said, citing infrastructure development, a sector that Kenyan government has invested heavily.
The US envoy also discussed regional security issues with the President, including recent developments in South Sudan and Somalia.
SAME PAGE ON REFUGEES
On Somalia and the related issue of repatriation of refugees from Kenya, the envoy said the US was on the same page with Kenya.
She said the US appreciates the fact that the Kenya government is using a structured approach in its plan to close refugee camps and repatriate refugees.
“We panicked at first but we are thankful it is a structured process,” said Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield.
President Kenyatta said the US, understands Kenya’s concerns and reasons for reaching the decision to close the refugee camp.
“We are faced with real challenges and we need to remain focused,” said President Kenyatta even as he urged the US to increase its support for the stabilisation of Somalia.
STRENGTHEN AMISOM
The President said the US and the European Union need to increase their support to strengthen the Somalia National Army as well as the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom).
President Kenyatta also said that Kenya wants to lobby other countries, including the United States, to strengthen the police force of Somalia so that they can enforce peace while the national army is being strengthened.
On her part, the envoy said the US has responded to a call made by President Kenyatta to the United Nations for a coordination of the military aid targeted at Somalia.
She said the US is now undertaking an initiative to bring together all countries that are giving military aid to Somalia so that there can be coordination and uniformity on issues such as training.
President Kenyatta had made the request for coordination of military aid to Somalia last month when he held a meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in Brussels, Belgium.
The President said there were many countries that were doing different activities which have no linkages and this would work against the African Union initiative to stabilise the country.