The US Department of State Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya Tuesday held a series of meetings with Kenyan officials and discussed police operations.
She met President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi, ahead of a planned press conference.
Officials said Zeya raised issues on police operations in the recent anti-government protests and in particular claims of abduction. She is also said to have raised the issue of the use of excessive force on the protesters.
Her visit also coincides with 26 years since the bombing of the US embassy in Nairobi in 1998.
Officials said America is concerned with the manner in which Kenyan authorities have handled the recent anti-government protests.
More than 60 people are alleged to have been killed in the protests and 60 others are missing, human rights organizations say.
Ruto said Kenya and the United States have long historical ties, which have expanded into “our common democratic tradition, peace, and security in Eastern Africa, the fight against terrorism and people-to-people relations”.
Zeya had met the Director of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin in his office and a delegation of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, EACC.
She was accompanied by the US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman encouraged the DCI to continue sustaining the fight against corruption and to ensure the provision of services in strict observance of human rights and the rule of law for a safe and secure society.
Amin registered his appreciation to the US government through its embassy for the support being given to DCI through various partnerships including support for investigations and prosecution of cases of Gender Based Violence (GBV).
He further reiterated that the DCI remains proactive and professional in executing its mandate of investigating crimes, protecting life and property, apprehension of offenders, and supporting prosecution processes.
This, he said, “is done in strict adherence to constitutional standards and with respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights.”
Zeya said she held a productive meeting with Amin on the need for independent investigations to support rights, respect policing, tackle corruption, and address gender-based violence. She also met a delegation of EACC officials led by Deputy CEO Abdi Mohamud.
The high-level meeting discussed modalities for cooperation and collaboration between US enforcement agencies and the EACC in upscaling the fight against corruption and economic crimes.
Zeya said the US is keen on elevating the fight against corruption through international anti-corruption frameworks and partnerships.
Mohamud underscored the significance of the existing strong partnerships between the Commission and US law enforcement agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Mohamud noted that through such partnerships with US enforcement agencies, EACC has benefitted through specialized training on complex financial investigations and advanced tools and equipment for corruption investigations.
The US visit solidifies the Commission’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with critical international stakeholders noting the transnational nature of economic crimes, officials said.
Source: The Star, Kenya
