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In Kenya, Kerry honors terror victims and talks with government about combating al-Shabaab

Associated Press
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U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, left, carries a wreath with the help of 1998 bomb survivor, Rukiya Ali, to lay it at Memorial Park in Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, May 4 , 2015, commemorating the victims of the U.S. embassy bombing, in 1998. U.S. Secretary of State Kerry arrived in the Kenyan capital Nairobi on Sunday afternoon, to assist in the country's fight against terror. (AP Photo/Sayyid Azim) (The Associated Press)

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry helps feed a baby elephant while touring the Sheldrick Center Elephant Orphanage at the Nairobi National Park, Sunday, May 3, 2015, in Nairobi, Kenya. The center's Orphans’ Project hand rears elephant and rhino orphans in a rehabilitation program to help protect Kenya's threatened animal populations struggling against poaching and loss of habitat. Kerry is visiting Sri Lanka, Kenya, and Djibouti on his trip. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool) (The Associated Press)

A convoy of cars transport U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and his entourage moves through Nairobi National Park, Sunday, May 3, 2015, in Nairobi, Kenya. Kerry is visiting Sri Lanka, Kenya, and Djibouti on his trip. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool) (The Associated Press)

Secretary of State John Kerry is commemorating victims of Kenya's past and present terror attacks and offering U.S. support in the fight against al-Shabaab.

His trip to the African country coincides with improving U.S.-Kenyan ties and sets the stage for President Barack Obama's visit this summer.

Kerry laid a wreath for the victims of the deadly 1998 bombing of the U.S. Embassy to Kenya and offered condolences to families and friends of the 148 people, mainly students, massacred at a Kenyan university last month.

He then met Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.

U.S. relations with Kenyatta have improved since the International Criminal Court dropped charges of crimes against humanity against him in December. Those were linked to violence that killed hundreds of people after Kenya's contested 2007 presidential election.