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US bans senior Kenyan official | US bans senior Kenyan official |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The US has imposed a travel ban on a senior Kenyan government official for obstructing efforts to rid the country of corruption. | The US has imposed a travel ban on a senior Kenyan government official for obstructing efforts to rid the country of corruption. |
Johnnie Carson, the US state department Africa chief, said he was considering bans on three other officials - but declined to release any names. | Johnnie Carson, the US state department Africa chief, said he was considering bans on three other officials - but declined to release any names. |
Kenya agreed to carry through reforms after 1,300 people died in post-election violence last year. | Kenya agreed to carry through reforms after 1,300 people died in post-election violence last year. |
But the US believes some officials have deliberately been blocking the reforms. | But the US believes some officials have deliberately been blocking the reforms. |
The BBC's Will Ross, in Nairobi, says the US has to perform a balancing act when it comes to dealing with Kenya. | |
On the one hand Washington wants to exert pressure and help sideline some of Kenya's more unsavoury politicians. | |
But the country is a vital ally in the region which the US relies on to help to dowse the flames of Islamist militancy in neighbouring Somalia, our correspondent says. | |
Sealed envelope | |
Mr Carson told reporters in Nairobi: "The US government has taken the decision to revoke the visa of a senior Kenyan government official." | Mr Carson told reporters in Nairobi: "The US government has taken the decision to revoke the visa of a senior Kenyan government official." |
Without revealing names, he described the politician as a "senior government official of influence". | Without revealing names, he described the politician as a "senior government official of influence". |
He said the individual had "obstructed the reform process, failed to end the cycle of impunity and has been an obstacle in the fight against corruption". | He said the individual had "obstructed the reform process, failed to end the cycle of impunity and has been an obstacle in the fight against corruption". |
Last month Mr Carson sent a letter to 15 officials warning them they faced travel bans if they failed to support the "reform agenda". | Last month Mr Carson sent a letter to 15 officials warning them they faced travel bans if they failed to support the "reform agenda". |
He urged Kenya to strengthen its institutions and eradicate corruption to avoid more violence after the next election in 2012. | He urged Kenya to strengthen its institutions and eradicate corruption to avoid more violence after the next election in 2012. |
A power-sharing government was eventually set up after weeks of violence following the December 2007 election, but it has struggled to restore stability. | A power-sharing government was eventually set up after weeks of violence following the December 2007 election, but it has struggled to restore stability. |
Rights groups blamed the police for many of the deaths in the riots. | Rights groups blamed the police for many of the deaths in the riots. |
International mediators have pressed the government to set up a tribunal to investigate the killings, but officials continue to miss every deadline they are set. | International mediators have pressed the government to set up a tribunal to investigate the killings, but officials continue to miss every deadline they are set. |
In July, former UN chief Kofi Annan passed the names of those accused of orchestrating the violence to the International Criminal Court in a sealed envelope. | |
The list, drawn up by a Kenyan judicial commission, has not been made public. | The list, drawn up by a Kenyan judicial commission, has not been made public. |