The United States government said on Wednesday it stands firmly with the people of Kenya to see a free, democratic and prosperous Kenya.
US Vice-President Joe Biden, while delivering a major speech underscoring the importance of his country's relations with Nairobi to a group of young leaders at Kenyatta International Conference Centre said Washington was not a dictator. "We are not here to dictate terms. But true friendship requires that you speak the truth to your partners," Biden told the audience in
Nairobi. "The rule of law and democratic changes in Kenya will encourage American investors to come and do business in the country and this will open way to people from other nationalities to troop in," said the Vice-President. "Americans want to travel here, do business here and with
the right climate, they will come," he told the forum and noted that Washington was willing to increase funding to Kenya once the proposed
Constitution is passed.
The public forum address forms part of Biden's three-day official visit to explain to Kenyans the discussions he held with senior government officials, including President Kibaki and Prime Minister Odinga.
Recalling the famous "Kennedy Airlift" that enabled thousands of Kenyans to seek education in American universities in the 1950s, the Vice-President said education has the potential to transform a nation. "As a result of the
airlift you have produced world renowned scientists, environmentalists, writers and a Nobel Prize winner. That tradition goes back before your independence and today Kenyans are the largest group of African students in American universities," he said.
Biden who arrived in the country on Monday night to press for political reforms in the east African nation, the birthplace of US President Barack Obama's father, said that while the cooperation between President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga in supporting the proposed constitution is encouraging it is upon Kenyans to bring about change.
The vice president said that the wind of change is blowing across Africa and Kenyans should seize the opportunity.
"The power rests with you. You are the keystone of Africa, it is up to you, it is up to the Kenyan people," he said. The US VP said it was not "his business how Kenyans will vote" at the August 4 referendum, but urged them to seize the moment to bring change.