Kibaki to obama-"You can't bwogo me, I am unbwogable"

Kibaki has written to Obama to express "displeasure" with his administration over letters sent to 15 top Kenyan officials.

"The action by the US Government official is considered out of step with international protocols in the conduct of relations between friendly nations," said a terse statement from Kibaki's office.

The President’s move comes just a day after Raila Odinga said that the US had the right to take action on individuals it deems to be blocking reforms.

Mr Odinga who was delivering a speech at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government in the US said Washington could take action "if they’re convinced the people they’re banning from coming to the United States are engaged in forms of impunity."

He said he was at the forefront of championing reforms adding that we was opposed to all forms of impunity.

"I have been a victim of impunity in the past," Mr Odinga said, noting that he had been detained three times for a total of nine years.

The conflicting messages form the highest levels of government could yet open fresh wounds in the fragile coalition government, formed to end months of violence after a disputed presidential elections.

President Kibaki's move is bound to reignite a new war of words between ODM and PNU stalwarts that characterised the 17-month old coalition.

On Thursday, US Ambassador Michael Ranneberger said that letters had been sent to the individuals warning them against blocking reforms.

The letters, signed by the US Africa top diplomat Johnnie Carson, warned Kenya risked losing Washington's support adding that it will not be "business as usual" if the country continued to delay the implementation of key reforms.

The list includes:

Francis Muthaura
Uhuru Kenyatta
William Ruto
Franklin Bett
Mutula Kilonzo
John Michuki
George Saitoti
George Thuo
Jakoyo Midiwo

The letters said that reforms must proceed with a greater sense of urgency adding that doing so is "crucial to the future democratic stability of Kenya."

The US has restated its desire to see Kenya implement changes agreed under Agenda Four of the National Accord that led to the formation of the Grand Coalition Government in 2008.

The reforms were part of peace negotiations brokered by former United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan to save the country from the brink after violence broke out in the aftermath of a disputed presidential election.

The opposition Orange Democratic Movement claimed that the 2007 presidential poll was rigged and its leader Raila Odinga denied victory. The incumbent, President Kibaki of the Party of National Unity was declared the victor by the Electoral Commission of Kenya.

The violence, which broke out following the ECK's announcement, left at least 1,300 dead and a further 350,000 displaced from their homes.

The Annan- led negotiations saw a return to peace and the formation of a power sharing government, where Mr Odinga was named Prime Minister and members of his party appointed to the cabinet.