US bans senior Kenyan official

Nairobi, 26 Oct-(ANA)-The US has imposed a travel ban on a senior Kenyan government official for obstructing efforts to rid the country of corruption.

Johnnie Carson, the US state department Africa chief, said he was considering bans on three other officials - but declined to release any names.

Kenya agreed to carry through reforms after 1,300 people died in post-election violence last year.

But the US believes some officials have deliberately been blocking the reforms.

Mr Carson told reporters in Nairobi: "The US government has taken the decision to revoke the visa of a senior Kenyan government official."

Without revealing names, he described the politician as a "senior government official of influence".

He said the individual had "obstructed the reform process, failed to end the cycle of impunity and has been an obstacle in the fight against corruption".

Last month Mr Carson sent a letter to 15 officials warning them they faced travel bans if they failed to support the "reform agenda". (ANA)

FA/ANA/26 October 2009---