Kibaki in talks with Rice, says State working on reforms

President Kibaki held talks with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who paid him a courtesy call at his hotel in New York City.

The President on Tuesday briefed Ms Rice on the progress Kenya had made since the signing of the National Accord early this year.

Kibaki assured Rice the Grand Coalition Government was working and had embarked on reforms.

He said his Government had prioritised several Bills to pave way for a new Constitution, creation of Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission and electoral reforms.

Land Reforms

The President said Government was committed to land reforms as well as resettlement of internally displaced Kenyans to enable them resume normal lives.

Rice reaffirmed the commitment by the US to support the resettlement programme.

She said her government would support Kenya in its efforts to reduce the effects of drought in arid areas through the United States Agency for International Development.

The US development agency would also assist farmers who lost their livestock following the outbreak of a viral disease that has killed animals in Rift Valley Province.

Dignitaries at the meeting included Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula, Attorney General Amos Wako and Kenya’s Ambassador to United States Peter Ogego.

The Director of US Foreign Assistance Henrietta Fore and the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer accompanied the US Secretary of State.

Later the President and First Lady Lucy Kibaki attended a reception hosted by President George Bush at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

Meanwhile, Kibaki will tomorrow afternoon address the United Nations’ General Assembly.

Challenges

He is expected to address some of the challenges Kenya and the East African region face as a result of the high global food and oil prices as well as worries over financial instability in the world market.

The President will also highlight areas that Africa looks forward to partnering with the rest of the world with regard to the attainment of the millennium development goals.