Powell presses Kenya on reforms

Aids is top of the agenda for Mr Powell's four-day tour

US Secretary of State Colin Powell has urged the Kenyan Government to reform the economy and stamp out corruption.

He was speaking after a meeting in Nairobi with President Daniel Arap Moi.

We hope we will see in the near future anti-corruption legislation and ethics legislation and economic crimes legislation

Secretary of State Colin Powell

Mr Powell, who is on a tour of Africa, said he urged the government to introduce a series of new laws, as demanded by international financial institutions like the IMF, which has suspended all loans to Kenya.

He said the US was also looking forward to the will of the people being respected during next year's presidential election.

President Moi is due to stand down under the current constitution, after more than two decades in power, although he refused to say on Saturday if he would step down.

Committed to reforms

Some of his supporters have urged him to change the system and stay on in office.

Mr Powell said he had a "candid" conversation with the president about the need for reform.

"We hope we will see in the near future anti-corruption legislation and ethics legislation and economic crimes legislation," he told a news conference.

Moi will was urged to ensure a democratic transition

"All of [this] will create the conditions that will not only allow the international financial institutions to make a more substantial contribution but will also go a long way to encouraging further financial investment," he said.

The president assured Secretary Powell that his government was committed to economic and political reforms, including the fight against corruption.

But, asked directly whether he would step down at the next elections, Mr Moi said: "It is too much to be always trying to undermine the intelligence of the African people."

Those who will decide the destiny of Kenya, for instance, or other people in Africa, will be the people themselves

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"Those who will decide the destiny of Kenya, for instance, or other people in Africa, will be the people themselves... I don't know what you are worrying about."

President Moi also briefed Secretary Powell on his mediation efforts, especially on the conflict in the Sudan and Somalia.

Mr Powell is touring Africa to promote democracy and open markets and discuss the Aids problem.

Aids problem

On Sunday, Mr Powell will tour one of Africa's largest slums on the edge of Nairobi where many people have no access to anti-Aids drugs.

He has assured that Africa is a priority for the Bush administration, adding that the US Government had set aside $200m for fighting Aids in the continent.

In South Africa on Friday, Mr Powell outlined a policy of continued engagement with Africa.

While praising many African leaders in his speech, Mr Powell issued unusually direct criticism of President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, a neighbour of South Africa.

Mr Powell said Mr Mugabe, in office since 1980, seems "determined to remain in power" long past when new elections should have been held.