US Secretary of States John Kerry set to visit Kenya and push for war on graft

State House spokesperson Manoah Esipisu PHOTO: STANDARD

America's top envoy will visit Kenya to push for war on corruption and campaign against drug menace.

The US Secretary of States John Kerry is also expected to pile pressure on Kenyan authorities to undertake serious electoral reforms, which are key to future stability.

Diplomatic sources said the move by Mr Kerry to visit Kenya on August 21 and 22 is part of efforts to push for major shift in the way things are done locally.

Washington feels major agreements reached with Nairobi last July when President Barack Obama visited are yet to be implemented.

The agreements were key in the war on drug trafficking and corruption.

"There is concern that the agreements are yet to be implemented by Kenyan authorities hence his coming. He will also raise other issues," said an informed source who asked not to be named.

Both US embassy in Nairobi and Ministry of Foreign Affairs refused to comment on the issue.

State House spokesman Manoah Esipisu, although confirming Kerry's visit, did not give more details, only saying that Kerry will be coming to discuss the situation in South Sudan and Somalia.

"Kerry will be visiting Kenya within the month. Matters that we expect to be discussed include security, regional and international relations and especially, the recent upheaval in our northern neighbour South Sudan as well as Somalia," said Esipisu.

The United States was a key broker of the Sudan peace deal and last month.

Talks on Somalia are likely to focus on the role of the African Union peacekeeping troops in the country in which Kenya is a main player. The United States has been lending air support to the troops which have already restored peace to large swathes of the country.

On the link between Kerry's visit and the war on drugs, sources said the US government is concerned that some of the drugs seized in America pass through Kenya.

On electoral reforms, the US is said to be in favour of real changes that are acceptable to all concerned parties.

The US ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec has been leading in efforts to push for electoral reforms.

After President Obama visited in July 2015, a joint commitment to promote good governance and anti-corruption efforts in Kenya was announced on July 25. It outlined moves aimed at stemming money laundering and terrorism financing.

The US Government said it intended to work with like-minded partners to coordinate and maintain momentum in support of Kenya's anti-corruption efforts.