US happy with Kenya, says envoy

By CHRIS WAMALWA in WASHINGTON, DC

The passing of the new Constitution has boosted the relationship between the US and Kenya, the ambassador to the US Elkanah Odembo has said.

In an exclusive interview with The Standard in his office in Washington DC, Mr Odembo said the respect with which different State organs in the US Government regard Kenya was encouraging, and would soon open floodgates of investments.

Kenya’s ambassador to the US Elkanah Odembo after presenting his credentials to US President Barack Obama. [PHOTO: courtesy]

"The governance issues that have been a sticking point in the relationship between Kenya and the US have finally been tackled with the passing of the new Constitution. I think this will and has indeed started significantly changing the manner in which the US Government regards Kenya," he said.

Odembo spoke on a wide range of issues soon after he presented his credentials to President Obama.

better days coming

Echoing US Vice-President Joseph Biden’s message that Kenya’s better days are coming, Odembo said he felt particularly proud to be Kenya’s representative in Washington because of the immense support he had received from the White House, the US Congress and businesses.

"We must take advantage of this opportunity.

I am hoping that during my time here, we will be able to use the goodwill. For the few weeks that I have been here, I have engaged officials from the State Department. I have met a number of congressmen, Senators and think tanks. I sense there is tremendous goodwill towards Kenya."

Odembo added: "We as Kenyans should feel extremely blessed that the occupant of the White House is a descendant of Kenya."

He, however, said there were still a lot of image issues to deal with. In the minds of many Americans, the image they carry of Kenya was that of machete wielding, house burning people running amok after an election.