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US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has advised Kenyans to work together to ensure transparent and fair presidential elections next March, and to avoid a repeat of the deadly post-election violence in 2007.

"We urge that the nation come together and prepare for elections that will be a real model for the entire world," Clinton said Saturday (August 4th) after talks with President Mwai Kibaki in Nairobi, AFP reported.

"Not only is this important for the people of Kenya, but the eyes of the world will be on this election, and I have absolute confidence that Kenya has a chance to be a model for other nations, not just here in Africa, but around the world," she said.

Clinton said the United States has pledged to assist the Kenyan government to ensure the elections are "free, fair and transparent".

More than 1,200 Kenyans were killed and thousands injured, with more than 300,000 people displaced after the 2007 elections, according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. About 42,000 houses and many businesses were looted or destroyed.

"The unrest that can result from a disputed election has a terrible cost, both in lives lost and in economic impact," Clinton said.

"The instability that followed the last election cost the Kenyan economy, by most estimates, more than $1 billion," she said. "So it is essential for government and civil society to work together."

Clinton also met with Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and other leaders from the Transitional Federal Government, which is preparing to end its mandate later this month. She said she has been "very encouraged by the progress" Somalia has made to elect a new government by the August 20th deadline.