Dave Opiyo
4 July 2009
Nairobi — The United States on Saturday continued to pile pressure on the grand coalition government to implement reforms it promised under Agenda Four of the National Accord.
The US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Mr Johnnie Carson, said Washington would continue to "encourage" Kenya to implement the reforms.
"We would like to encourage the grand coalition government to ensure that they implement all the reforms as stipulated under Agenda Four within the stipulated time," he said at a news conference in Nairobi.
The US Government has previously warned of unspecified action against the Kenyan leadership should it fail to implement the reform agenda and end intermittent wrangles that have threatened to derail the grand coalition.
The coalition partners have many times engaged in wrangles over the implementation of provisions in the National Accord that was jointly negotiated under the guidance of former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan.
At the news conference at the US Ambassador's residence, Mr Carson, who is on a two-day visit to the country, emphasised the role of good governance and democracy in relations between America and African states.
Citing Ghana as an example, Mr Carson said: "President Obama's visit to Ghana is meant to celebrate democracy ... Ghana has had successful elections where power has been transferred peacefully from the ruling parties to the opposition at least twice.
"His visit is, therefore, to demonstrate his support towards democratic governance and the rule of law. We hope that this support will be a catalyst for other countries on the continent to adopt democratic ideals as well," he added.
Away from Kenya, Mr Carson expressed concern over renewed violence in Somalia that threatens to destabilise the region.
"The happenings in Somalia are regrettable and will not only affect the people of the country but the entire region," he said, urging neighbouring countries to support implementation of the UN-AU driven Djibouti Accord that seeks to find a lasting solution to the crisis in the war-torn Horn of Africa state.
Mr Carson said the US would not send troops to fight the Al Shabaab Islamic insurgents, who have recently launched a series of attacks against the Transitional Federal Government of Somali, which is headed by President Sheikh Shariff Ahmed.
"We will continue to find ways and means of helping the TFG to counter Al Shabaab insurgents," he said.
This will include financial and military support, he said, but not manpower.
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