Prime Minister Raila Odinga meets the Governor of Florida Rick Scott in Florida, US April 14, 2011. Mr Odinga said his week-long visit to the United States intended to spur investment in Kenya is bearing fruit. PMPS
By KEVIN KELLEY in New York
Posted Friday, April 15 2011 at 13:18
Posted Friday, April 15 2011 at 13:18
Prime Minister Raila Odinga week-long visit to the United States intended to spur investment in Kenya is bearing fruit.
Mr Odinga told the Nation in an interview on Thursday from Florida where he discussed trade ties with the state's governor that the results have been encouraging.
The PM had previously attended an investors' conference in New York and a luncheon of US corporate executives in Washington.
American business leaders' interest in Kenya is growing as the country continues recovering from the violence of early 2008, said Stephen Hayes, director of the Washington-based Corporate Council on Africa that hosted Mr Odinga.
Mr Hayes acknowledged, however, that there was still “some reluctance” to invest in Kenya due to the possibility of renewed instability.
Mr Odinga called the US response to his presentations "outstanding".
He noted that 400 corporate representatives took part in the Kenya-focused conference in New York — four times the number organisers had expected.
Representatives of corporations such as General Electric were drawn by opportunities to invest in “bankable projects” in Kenya, he said.
White House officials were non-committal regarding a visit to Kenya this year by President Barack Obama, Mr Odinga indicated.
“They're looking into it,” the PM said.
The issue of a possible deferral of the International Criminal Court (ICC) cases against the Ocampo Six has received little attention in his conversations with US political leaders, Mr Odinga added.
His White House discussions with Vice President Joseph Biden focused on development aid for Kenya, the influx of Somali refugees and efforts to stabilise neighbouring Sudan and Somalia, Mr Odinga said.
The prime minister was scheduled to take part in a ceremony in Boston on Friday honouring the Kenyans who have dominated the city's marathon for the past 20 years.
He is then scheduled to fly to Los Angeles for more talks with US business leaders before leaving the United States for France on Sunday.
Mr Odinga had little to say about government spokesman Alfred Mutua's prediction that Eldoret MP William Ruto will soon return to the cabinet following his acquittal on fraud charges.
“That is a matter to be discussed with the president,” the Premier said.
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