It will also share intelligence, which would be useful in preventing future attacks, as well as help with funds to combat youth radicalisation and for counter-terrorism training.

Speaking in Nairobi yesterday, US Secretary of State John Kerry, who leaves Kenya today after a two-day visit, said: "We are deeply encouraged in trying to help Kenya to be able to push back the challenge of terrorism. We will be working on border security, intelligence sharing, we are working together in terms of law enforcement, capacity building."

Kenya and the US are already cooperating in the fight against terrorism and talks between Mr Kerry and top government officials, including President Uhuru Kenyatta, could see a strengthening of that.

"Our cooperation is very strong and I think we have put in some $600 million to assist over these last few years with Kenya directly. This year alone it is more than $100 million," Mr Kerry said at a press briefing at the Sankara Hotel.

He met the President and a high-powered team of ministers at State House, Nairobi, in what is being seen as an improvement in the relations between the US and Kenya.

ESSENTIAL CONTACT

The US, along with most of the West, had all but put relations with Kenya on ice, insisting only on "essential contact" with the President and Deputy President William Ruto arising out of their prosecution at the Hague.

The ties have improved since Mr Kenyatta's case was withdrawn.

A sign of that improvement is a joint conference being organised by the two countries on terrorism.

"How do we make sure we are not taking people off the field while replacements keep coming along? That is part of the challenge ... dealing with foreign fighters, dealing with delegitimatising those who claim religious support for something that has no basis," he said.

The US did not seem to support the immediate withdrawal of Kenyan troops from Somalia, with Mr Kerry urging Kenyans to be "a little patient".

"The exit strategy needs to be a success," he said. "Kenya is playing that important role of leadership in Somalia. We are part of a team and Kenya is a leader of that team ... and the role Kenya is playing is critical for the future of Somalia. Kenya will be safer if Somalia is stable."

He said there was also need for increased support for Amisom, the UN-backed force that has been fighting Al-Shabaab inside Somalia and of which Kenya is a part.

IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL

The position taken by Mr Kerry differs with the push by opposition politicians who have been calling for the immediate withdrawal of Kenyan troops from Somalia. However, Cord yesterday said that its leadership and Mr Kerry had agreed on the need for a shared and understood exit strategy for Kenyan soldiers in Somalia

According to a press statement sent to newsrooms by Mr Raila Odinga's spokesman, Mr Dennis Onyango, Mr Kerry and Cord leaders also agreed that there was need to reform the electoral commission ahead of the 2017 polls.

During his press briefing at Sankara, Mr Kerry also said the US and Kenya would share intelligence at the highest level to deter Al-Shabaab attacks inside the country.

Sources in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the meeting between President Kenyatta and Mr Kerry heralded a turning point in the Jubilee administration's relationship with the US.

"The meeting was very warm, signalling a new leaf in our relations with the United States. You know how we (Kenya and the US) we have been in the recent past," said the source.

It was understood that Mr Kenyatta met Mr Kerry at first in the presence of Cabinet secretaries Joseph Nkaissery (Interior Affairs) and Amina Mohammed (Foreign Affairs) and Raychelle Omamo (Defence) for one hour and a half.

The two leaders then moved into a private meeting and it is not known what they discussed.

The Presidential Strategic Communications Unit (PSCU) sent a statement saying that President Kenyatta and Mr Kerry discussed investment, security and the scheduled visit by US President Barack Obama in July.