By Standard Digital Reporter
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Kenya. Ms Clinton arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport shortly after 10am Saturday morning and she immediately left for State House in a convoy where she is holding talks with President Kibaki.
Clinton is also to host high profile meetings with Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission.
She comes seven months before Kenya goes to the crucial succession elections in which President Kibaki will retire from power. Democracy is anticipated to be one of the key issues to discussed in her stop in Kenya.
Clinton’s visit to Kenya is part of her seven-nation tour of the African continent where she is scheduled to visit Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, South Sudan, Ghana and Kenya.
She has already visited Senegal, where she congratulated the country’s leadership for their advancement in democracy and affirmed that the US will continue to partner with nations to boost good governance.
Seen as a move to solidity US- Africa ties in the face of greater Chinese partnership, analysts expect Clinton’s trip to focus on democracy and further business cooperation between the Us and African nations.
Other highlights of the 11-day trip include a visit to South Africa’s first black President Nelson Mandela, and attendance of Atta Mills Burial in Ghana.
Clinton is also expected to address the increasing threat of Islamist terror groups in both west and east Africa. Boko Haram has launched numerous attacks in Nigeria, which have left thousands hurt, and many others dead. Somalia’s Al Shabaab, has rocked security in East Africa with numerous attacks in Kenya in the recent past.
This trip comes nearly three years after Clinton first visted Kenya in August 2009, where sehe adressed the stability of the coalition government, investment in agricultre and development.
