The United States is criticizing Kenya for failing to create a special court to try alleged perpetrators of last year's post-election violence.
The statement was released through the U.S. embassy in Nairobi Tuesday shortly before the scheduled arrival of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The United States said it is "deeply concerned" about the Kenyan government's decision not establish the special court.
It said a plan to expand the role of an existing truth and reconciliation commission "is not a credible approach in the eyes of the Kenyan people and the international community."
There was no immediate reaction from the Kenyan government.
Last year, some 1,300 people were killed in riots and ethnic violence sparked by Kenya's disputed presidential election.
The International Criminal Court has said it will try the alleged organizers of the violence if Kenya fails to act.
Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who helped mediate the end of last year's violence, has turned over a list of suspects to the ICC.
Kenyan officials had promised to create the special tribunal. But parliament rejected two government proposals for setting up the court, and Cabinet ministers are divided on the matter.
Some Kenyan lawmakers have called for the ICC to take charge, saying Kenyan courts lack independence, and could not effectively handle any cases involving high-level government officials.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.