NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 7 - US Vice President Joe Biden who is on a week-long trip to Africa has already arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

Mr Biden who is expected in Nairobi later on Monday evening, was due to hold a meeting with President Hosni Mubarak to discuss a full range of bilateral and regional issues.

Security officials in Nairobi were on a high alert ahead of Biden’s visit.

Mr Biden who is America’s top most official to visit Kenya since President Barrack Obama took over power is expected to arrive at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 7 pm, according to the American Embassy.

He will be accompanied in Kenya by his wife Dr Jill Biden and other senior officials from Washington.

On arrival in Nairobi, Mr Biden will meet with key leaders in Kenya, including President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

“In addition to discussing a range of bilateral issues, the Vice President will address America’s shared interests in peace and stability in the region, particularly in Sudan and Somalia,” a statement from the US Embassy said.

It said the Vice President would also deliver a major speech underscoring the importance of the United States-Kenya relations at Kenyatta International Conference Centre.

In his speech, the embassy said, the Vice President will discuss Kenya’s great promise and the need to work together to meet regional challenges.

Details of his arrival in Nairobi remained a closely-guarded secret with the American Embassy in Nairobi only stating that “the Vice President will arrive in the evening at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya.”

A senior police officer at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) however, told Capital News the plane carrying Biden was expected to touch down any time after 7 pm.

“That is all we know, all the security arrangements have been put in place,” the officer said.

Security arrangements for Biden during his three day stay in Nairobi was being coordinated from the US Embassy in Gigiri with coordination with the office of the Director of Operations at Police headquarters.

Another senior police officer at the Nairobi Area Police headquarters said they had been asked to provide police officers to be deployed to cover Mr Biden and his entourage, but the exact number officers in the exercise was not immediately established as other officers from GSU headquarters were also lined up.

During his visit, Mr Biden will visit the August 7th Memorial Park and lay a wreath. He is also due to meet the Speaker of the National Assembly Kenneth Marende and the Reform Caucus of Parliamentarians.

He is scheduled to deliver a major speech underscoring the importance of the United States-Kenya relations at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre on Wednesday morning before he departs for South Africa on Thursday.

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Source:-Capital FM

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