US Denies Pushing for Formation of "Nusu Mkate" Government in Kenya

The United States has refuted reports appearing on a section of local media claiming that the US government was pushing for formation of a unity government between Jubilee and National Super Alliance (NASA).

An article published by the Standard on Tuesday claimed that both Jubilee and NASA had rejected a proposal by US and Israel to have the two sides form a grand coalition government.

“It is in the public domain that the US and the Israeli governments want Kenya to have a government of national unity. But as far as we are concerned, such talks with the opposition leader have not taken place," the Standard quoted a source within NASA.

In a statement on Tuesday, US through its embassy in Nairobi, however, clarified that its ambassador Robert Godec has not called for formation of unity government, stating that US is only committed to national dialogue to unite the country.

"Media reports that Amb @BobGodec asked for a unity cabinet or pushed for a unity gov't are wrong. US continues to be committed to a National Conversation involving all Kenyans to build national unity, address long-standing issues & resolve divisions exacerbated by 2017 elections," the embassy said tweet.