USA promised to help Kenya

  1. Posted on Wednesday 9 June 2010 - 15:48
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    Alex Kiarie, AfricaNews reporter in Nairobi, Kenya
    United States vice president Joe Biden has promised Kenya major development assistance when the east African nation implements far reaching reforms. He said among the list of request from the Obama-led administration is for the African country's political authorities to pass a new constitution.
    Joe biden
    "Putting in place a new constitution and strengthening your democratic institutions will further open the door to major American development programmes, such as the Millennium Challenge and will bring about re-investment by American corporations and international organizations," Biden said.

    Biden's message affirms President Obama's support for the proposed draft constitution that is set to be tabled before a referendum on August 8.

    "You have before you a singular opportunity to strengthen Kenya's democratic institutions," he said. "The United States strongly supports the process of constitutional reform."

    "Too many times Kenya has been divided against itself, torn apart by ethnic tensions and manipulated by leaders who placed their own interests above the interests of their country," Biden said.

    More than 1,000 people were killed in violence that followed a disputed 2007 presidential election. The International Criminal Court is investigating the leaders of that violence, and the court's prosecutor has indicated he may indict several top officials, including Cabinet members, for orchestrating the attacks.

    Biden said political reform and the new constitution can help the country improve transparency and accountability. The new constitution would reduce executive power, something Biden said he would like to see.

    "Dare to reach for transformative change, the kind of change that might come around only once in a lifetime," Biden said.

    The vice president began his three-African nation tour on Monday in Egypt where he met with that country's leader, Hosni Mubarak. On Thursday he will fly to South Africa for the opening of the World Cup.

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