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Kerry promises additional aid to Kenya

The money will be used to serve the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

By Ed Adamczyk
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry addressed employees of the U.S. embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, Monday (CC/ Twitter/ U.S. State Dept.)
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry addressed employees of the U.S. embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, Monday (CC/ Twitter/ U.S. State Dept.)

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 4 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced $45 million in additional aid to Africa while visiting Nairobi, Kenya, Monday.

Speaking at a press conference, he said the funding would help the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees provide better schools, health clinics and drinking water. The funding will serve 600,000 refugees, mostly from Somalia and South Sudan, now living in Kenya, the State Dept. said.

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It added the United States has provided over $289 million in humanitarian assistance to Kenya since 2014. Earlier in the day Kerry met with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta to discuss means of dealing with the al-Qaida affiliate militant group al-Shabab. Kerry also placed a wreath of remembrance at the site of the 1998 bombing of the U.S. embassy in Nairobi.

Kenya is regarded as a key regional ally of the United States, and has been instrumental in helping stop the spread of al-Shabab, based in Somalia. Kerry's visit comes after al-Shabab militants attacked Garissa University College in western Kenya in March, killing 147 people.

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