The US has asked Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga to call off his plans to unofficially swear himself as president next week, the East African country’s Daily Nations newspaper reports.
Mr Odinga boycotted October’s repeat presidential election and has said he does not recognise Uhuru Kenyatta’s victory.
Mr Kenyatta was officially re-elected with 98% of the vote on 26 October but just under 39% of voters turned out.
The original election on 8 August was held again after being annulled by the Supreme Court on grounds of irregularities.
Mr Odinga has said his swearing-in ceremony will take place next Tuesday, which is a public holiday – Jamhuri Day – to mark Kenya’s 54th year of independence from the UK.
US envoy Donald Yamamoto met Mr Odinga during a visit to Kenya on Tuesday, the Daily Nation says.
The Kenyan politician was told that if went ahead with his plans, it would only serve to further polarise the country.
A source who attended the meeting told the paper that in return the envoy undertook to bring President Kenyatta’s party into negotiations with the opposition.
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