The United States will impose travel bans on Kenyan ministers and other prominent people blocking government reforms aimed at preventing political violence, the American ambassador to Kenya said Thursday.
Michael Ranneberger said that 15 Kenyans had received letters saying the U.S. was reviewing its relationship with them. He declined to name the individuals, but said that when the ban is imposed their names will be made public.
The top U.S. diplomat for Africa, Johnnie Carson, sent the letters to ministers, senior government officials and members of parliament, Ranneberger said.
The U.S., one of Kenya's key lenders, has persistently criticized Kenya for not taking action against perpetrators of postelection violence in 2007.
More than 1,000 people were killed in December 2007 and early 2008 following a dispute over presidential election results.
President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga signed a power-sharing deal in February 2008 to end the violence, which was also fueled by frustration over poverty and corruption.
The power-sharing deal also contained clauses on constitutional, judicial and other reforms, which have not been implemented.
"It's a growing sense of frustration, at the highest levels (in the U.S. government), that despite the rhetoric, and commissions and talk and all that, not much has happened," Ranneberger told journalists in the Kenyan capital.
Kenyan government spokesman Alfred Mutua said that Kenya does not, "respond to activism diplomacy."
