US President Barack Obama commends Kenya's commitment to root out corruption

US President Barack Obama addressing press conference after holding bilateral talks with President Uhuru Kenyatta on Saturday at State House in Nairobi. [Photo: PSCU]

US President Barack Obama commended Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Saturday for his commitment to rooting out corruption in the east African state, saying graft was a key reason why the economy was not growing even faster.

"This may be the biggest impediment to Kenya growing faster," Obama told a joint news conference with his Kenyan counterpart, while praising Kenyatta for making the issue a top priority of his administration.

Obama also said the presidential vote held last week in the central African state of Burundi in the face of criticism by many African and Western states was not "credible."