John Kerry and Cord leaders hold talks

The process of withdrawing Kenyan troops from Somalia was among the issues US Secretary of State John Kerry discussed with Opposition leaders on Monday.

Mr Kerry held talks with Raila Odinga and other members of the Opposition at the Serena Hotel in Nairobi, shortly after he met with President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House.

The Opposition has been calling for the withdrawal of the Kenya Defence Forces from Somalia following continued attacks by Al-Shabaab, which cites the presence of KDF as a reason for its actions.

However, the administration of President Kenyatta has maintained that the troops would remain in the country, where they are part of a larger African mission.

"We have discussed the possible exit strategy for our troops in Somalia and Mr Kerry has told us what President Obama did to pull out American troops from Iraq and Afghanistan," Cord co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka told journalists afterwards.

He said the Opposition has been suggesting KDF withdraws from Somalia but maintains a presence at the border.

Al-Shabaab has vowed to continue its attacks until Kenya removes its troops. KDF took control of Kismayu Port, which the terrorist organisation had used to smuggle goods and finance their activities.

Also discussed was regional stability, with particular focus on Burundi and South Sudan. The talks also touched on a number of internal issues including national security, the war on corruption and electoral reforms.

The two sides agreed on the need to make the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) more efficient and credible ahead of the next General Election.