(Daily Nation) Clinton tells Moi: Stay on the path for
reform
"He briefed his US counterpart on the conflict in the Horn of Africa and his
recent visit in
Ethiopia and Eritrea as well as his peace initiative in the Sudan and the general
situation
in the Great Lakes region."
Clinton tells Moi: Stay on the path for reform
The Nation (Nairobi)
February 19, 2000
By Nation Correspondent
Nairobi - US President Bill Clinton invited President Moi to the White House - and then
encouraged him to stay on the path of economic and constitutional reform.
Mr. Clinton delivered a "very stern message", said US spokesman Mr. David Leavy.
He added: "We have made anti-corruption a key pillar of our Africa policy," and
said Mr. Clinton
had also delivered that message to President Moi.
"It was a frank and cordial exchange," said another senior administration
official after the
30-minute meeting, held on the sidelines of the National Summit on Africa taking place in
Washington.
"We have been extremely frank in public and in private with the Government of Kenya
about our
concerns for many years now, including on the economic front and on the political
front," the
official added.
He said President Moi explained to Mr. Clinton during the meeting on Thursday, the reforms
he planned to introduce during his last two years in office.
In turn, the official added, the US President "strongly encouraged (President Moi) to
take
those steps and to move Kenya in a direction so that its ability to function within the
rest
of the region both as a stable economy and a peaceful country is enhanced."
President Moi told Mr. Clinton there would be no going back on the reforms and emphasised
his
commitment to a legacy of a united, democratic and stable country.
He briefed his US counterpart on the conflict in the Horn of Africa and his recent visit
in
Ethiopia and Eritrea as well as his peace initiative in the Sudan and the general
situation
in the Great Lakes region.
President Clinton said he appreciated Kenya's position as a stable country in a region of
turmoil.
Noting that he was aware of the tremendous progress in economic and political reforms in
Kenya, Mr. Clinton assured President Moi of America's support. He expressed the hope that
the Bretton Woods institutions would restore both economic and financial cooperation with
Kenya in the light of the positive economic and political reform.
President Clinton said after his retirement he would like to continue his contacts with
President
Moi, whom he described as an authority on Africa.
Mr. Clinton added that he had learnt of the beauty of Kenya and about the warmth of her
people
and said he planned to visit the country "at an opportune time".
This, he added, would help him to continue to foster Afro-American relations.
Present at the meeting were Foreign Minister Bonaya Godana, PS Sally Kosgei, US Secretary
of
State Madeline Albright and US Assistant Secretary for Africa Affairs Susan Rice.
Earlier, President Moi attended the official opening of the summit by President Clinton at
Washington Convention Centre. President Moi also attended a luncheon hosted by the US
corporate Council on Africa at a Washington hotel.
There, President Moi said Kenya was actively pursuing political and economic reforms to
encourage an investor-friendly business environment.
The President emphasised that major democratic institutions would continue to be
strengthened.
He said the on-going national constitutional reform process was a dynamic one on how the
country should develop politically.
Saying that it was a process of which Kenyans were proud, President Moi noted it was an
essential part of Kenya's democratic tradition. He further noted that the reforms had put
the country at the forefront of economic liberalisation.
President Moi once again pointed out that the country was committed to trade
liberalisation
and privatisation programmes aimed at removing State participation in business.
He said the move had opened up opportunities in energy, transport and communication,
tourism,
agriculture and in share issues at the stock exchange.
The President went on to say that Kenya had removed bottlenecks to investments such as
import
restrictions, price controls as well as controls on the transfer of funds. He praised the
successful
passage by both the US House of Representatives and the Senate of the African Growth
Opportunity Act which would open up American markets to African countries. He invited
members of the corporate council to visit Kenya and explore the investment and business
opportunities which he said were abundant in the country.
Later President Moi held talks with Congressman Jim McDermot at his hotel suite.
Meanwhile, Kenyans resident in America called on President Moi to resign to pave the way
for
meaningful change.
In a letter to President Moi, the Kenya Community Abroad (KCA) claimed that he had avoided
meeting them because he did not want to be confronted by questions about mismanagement of
the country.
The KCA accused the President of stonewalling on reforms and called the Parliamentary
Select
Committee a gimmick.
On corruption, they said it had happened under President Moi's tenure and that he should
resign.
The KCA represents Kenyans living in many parts of the world, with more than 300
registered
members, the largest number of which live in North America. (PPS)