US President Barrack Obama wants strict timelines on Kenya, America deals

President Uhuru Kenyatta, First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, United States of America President Barack Obama and United States of America National Security Advisor Susan Rice at a State Banquet at State House, Nairobi.

US President Barrack Obama said there was need to set timelines to help realise targets in key areas of co-operation agreed on between his government and Kenya.

Prior to meeting President Uhuru Kenyatta and his delegation for bilateral talks on Saturday, Obama also called for firming up of areas of co-operation agreed on by the two parties.

President Kenyatta's team comprised Deputy President William Ruto and seven Cabinet secretaries.

He also expressed hope that his visit would strengthen the relations between the two countries so that both nations can achieve their objectives in areas of interest in the bilateral agreements.

"I am very excited about what we can accomplish together...this visit and these meetings will allow us to take the already strong relationship that we have between our two countries and really put in place concrete plans and timetables to get things done," said Obama at the meeting in State House.

The Cabinet secretaries in Uhuru's delegation included Anne Waiguru (Devolution), Judi Wakhungu (Environment), Joseph Nkaissery (Interior), Amina Mohammed (Foreign Affairs), Henry Rotich (Treasury), James Macharia (Health), Raychelle Omamo (Defence) and Industrialisation's Ibrahim Mohammed.

Obama asked Kenyans not to allow the challenge of terrorism to distract them from the development agenda.

He said he was impressed at how Kenyans have in the past one decade confronted ethnic divisions and moved towards cultivating national unity.

"The opportunities for growth and prosperity and people-to-people exchanges, and tourism, and scientific and educational exchanges — those are the things that the people of Africa are most hungry for, and no place better exemplifies the possibilities and opportunities than Kenya," he said.

strong ties

President Kenyatta hailed the strong ties between US and Kenya and sought the help of the America President's administration on improvement of security and particularly the fight against terror.

"No single country can deal with this problem (terrorism) alone. We need to partner with the realisation that it is a global threat that knows no boundaries. And ultimately, it is the close partnership we put together across all nations that will help us overcome this challenge," said Uhuru.

Uhuru also lobbied for America's support for favourable trade with Kenya, and welcomed Obama's extension of African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), saying this would deepen trade relations between the two nations.