US senator urges Kenyan president to aid peaceful transition

By CARA ANNA
Associated Press

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A visiting U.S. senator says he has encouraged Kenya’s outgoing president to participate in a “peaceful transition of power” amid the latest election crisis in East Africa’s most stable democracy. Sen. Chris Coons told The Associated Press during his visit to Kenya that “I’ll let the president speak for himself, but that was certainly a hope I expressed today.” Kenyatta has remained publicly silent since the Aug. 9 vote, adding to the anxiety as Kenya again faces post-election uncertainty and a likely court challenge by the losing candidate, Raila Odinga. Coons, leading a congressional delegation, also met with Odinga and president-elect William Ruto.