President Kenyatta would not be making an official visit to the US when he delivers an address at the United Nations next month, Kenya’s UN ambassador said Wednesday.
“His visit will be to the UN,” Macharia Kamau wrote in an email message.
“This will not be an official visit to the US. We never mix the two.”
Kenya’s head of state is scheduled to speak during the opening session of the General Assembly on September 25, a UN spokesman said on Wednesday.
In keeping with diplomatic protocol for a non-official visit, it is unlikely that President Kenyatta would travel from New York to Washington to meet with Obama administration officials.
It is not unusual, however, for the secretary of state and other high-ranking US diplomats to hold talks in New York with a heads of state taking part in the opening session of the UN General Assembly.
FIRST UNITED STATES VISIT
Less frequently, the US president meets with a world leader on the sidelines of the annual UN gathering.
Mr Kenyatta’s first visit to the US following his election as president in March will be closely watched due to indications that the Obama administration intends to limit its contacts with a leader accused of crimes against humanity.
His trial at the International Criminal Court is slated to open on November 12.
But President Obama did initiate contact with President Kenyatta earlier this month.
He called President Kenyatta on August 7 to offer US assistance following the fire that destroyed the international arrivals terminal at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Mr Kamau cautioned on Wednesday that Kenya’s UN Mission has not received official confirmation that President Kenyatta will be traveling to New York.
The president’s full programme will be confirmed in September, the ambassador said.
It would likely include a meeting with members of the Kenyan diaspora in the United States.-nation.co.ke
