Mr Johnnie Carson, the Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of
African Affairs, expressed the concerns during discussions with Mr
Odinga on Tuesday.
He was accompanied by Ms Michelle D. Gavin, a special assistant to
President Barack Obama and senior director for African Affairs at the
White House.
However, Mr Odinga assured the officials that the coalition was putting
in place institutions that would deliver in critical areas like
constitutional, judicial and police reforms in about a year.
Poll chaos suspects
The Prime Minister said that, in the next three months, the taskforce
on police reforms would table its proposals, which would be implemented
immediately.
He said the government planned to take the Special Tribunal Bill to the
House in the next two months to determine whether post-election
violence suspects would be tried locally or at The Hague.
Mr Carson, a former US ambassador in Nairobi, told the Prime Minister
that there were enormous concerns in Washington that the Coalition
appeared lethargic, and that the Accord was not being implemented fully.
Washington's fear is that failure to implement the Accord could undermine Kenya's political stability, Mr Carson said.
The diplomat said Washington was concerned by the spate of extrajudicial killings and the absence of punishment.
He asked the government to implement critical reforms that to ensure that the country did not experience violence again.
You know how strongly people feel about Kenya. If there is another
crisis here, it would be enormously devastating. If the country does
not make economic progress, there could be more violence in the next
elections, he said.
He said Mr Odinga had a long history of fighting for democracy and
serving jail terms for his beliefs, and asked him to stand up for
Kenyans.
Very concerned
Ms Gavin said she discussed Kenya with President Obama last Friday. Mr
Obama is very concerned about the situation in Kenya, she said.
President Obama asked me to relay his message to the government that
he is keen to see reforms in Kenya and that Washington will not do
business as usual with Kenya.
Mr Carson also held talks with President Kibaki. The President briefed
him on the workings and achievements of the Grand Coalition Government
which, he said, had firmly put the country on the path of comprehensive
reforms.
President Kibaki informed Mr Carson that the committee of experts on
the constitution had begun its work as the country sought to have a new
constitution.
The President also noted that he had gazetted the appointment of
members of the Interim Independent Electoral Commission that is
critical in the country's attempts to reform the electoral process.
And speaking later at the US ambassador's residence, Mr Carson said it
was up to Kenyans to find solutions for their political problems. He
said the US regarded Kenya as the most important country in the region.
It is no accident that this was my first stop as Assistant Secretary of State, he said.
Daily Nation
Post published in: Zimbabwe News