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Biden: US Will Increase Kenya Investment With Reforms

VOA News
08 June 2010

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden says he is optimistic that Kenya's leaders will implement planned political reforms.

Biden, currently on a three-day visit to Kenya, told a news conference Tuesday that if the country passes a new constitution and strengthens its governance, it will open the door to greater aid and investment from the United States.

Biden's comments came after a meeting with President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

The two Kenyan leaders entered into a power-sharing deal in 2008 after post-election violence that killed about 1,300 people.

As part of the agreement, the leaders and their parties agreed to draft a new constitution that would address abuses of power and ethnic tensions that led to the violence. Kenyans are set to vote on the proposed constitution August 4.

On security matters, Vice President Biden said the U.S. supports Kenya's efforts to secure its border with Somalia, where Islamist insurgents are trying to overthrow the government.

President Kibaki said Kenya asked the U.S. to lead a concerted international effort to stabilize Somalia.

This is the second stop on Biden's three-country tour of Africa, culminating Friday in South Africa, where he will represent the United States at the opening ceremony of the World Cup football (soccer) tournament.

Monday, Biden met in Egypt with President Hosni Mubarak discussing the problems facing the residents of the Gaza Strip.

Biden said the Obama administration is consulting not only with Egypt but with other U.S. partners on new ways to address the "humanitarian, economic, security and political aspects" of the situation in Gaza.

Israel continues to maintain a blockade of Gaza imposed by Israel and Egypt three years ago after Hamas took control of the territory. Last week, after Israel's bloody interception of an international aid flotilla heading for Gaza, Mr. Mubarak opened Egypt's Rafah crossing to allow humanitarian aid into the coastal strip.