Updated on Friday, November 14, 2008, 00:00 IST

Nairobi, Nov 14: United States president-elect Barack Obama telephoned Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki on Tuesday night to discuss issues of mutual interest and future plans of engagement.

During the telephone conversation, President Kibaki again congratulated Obama, whose late father was from Kenya, on his historic and well-deserved victory, according to the Presidential Press Service in Nairobi.

President Kibaki conveyed the best wishes of the people of Kenya, noting that Obama's victory resonated well in the country and had been received with immense pride and gratification.

President Kibaki said the Kenyan people fully understood that the US president-elect owed his allegiance to the American people but were confident that Kenya would always have a special place in his heart.

Kenya looked forward to strengthening co-operation and ties with the US, Kibaki assured Obama.

He also extended an invitation to President-elect Barack Obama to visit Kenya at his earliest convenience.

Bureau Report