US ambassador Meg Whitman calls for violent free elections

US ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman has called on the government and people of Kenya to ensure that the 9th August elections are violent free.

Ambassador Whitman said this at the Us Embassy in Nairobi when she addressed her first press conference after presenting her credentials to President Uhuru Kenyatta.

She said the US government would only offer its support but it was the responsibility of the Kenyan government to ensure that the polls are properly organised in an environment devoid of chaos. “Kenya’s democracy is vibrant, and it is up to the Kenyan people to decide their future. The August 9 election represents an opportunity for Kenyans to showcase for the world the strength of Kenya’s democracy by conducting free, fair, and peaceful elections.” said ambassador Whitman.

The envoy defended the recent security alert targeting Kisumu saying that the county had the largest population of US citizens outside Nairobi and added that it wasn’t meant to profile the Kisumu residents or premeditate the outcome of the coming polls.

Ambassador Whitman promised to immediately address the length of time it take to process US visas following complaints by Kenyans after Kenyan athlete Ferdinand Omanyala faced visa hurdles.

Earlier in the day, the envoy visited the August 7 Memorial Park to pay her respects to the victims of the August 7, 1998 terrorist attacks and mark the 24th anniversary of the attack that left several dead.