President Mwai Kibaki made the statement to Jendayi Frazer, the leading US diplomatic for Africa, according to the director of the presidential news service, Isaiya Kabira.

Kabira said he could not say whether that was a formal offer to opposition leader Raila Odinga, who accuses Kibaki of stealing the December 27 elections that international observers say had a deeply flawed vote count.

Frazer, who met with Odinga earlier on Saturday, would be meeting with the opposition leader again, Kabira said, implying she might be carrying a message from Kibaki.

Odinga told a news conference he had not received any formal offer from the government, but added: “Let them put that on the table when we are negotiating.” He declined to say what his response would be. On Friday, Odinga called for a transitional government to organise a new election, but Kibaki said a rerun could be ordered only by the High Court. There was no immediate statement from Frazer on her 90-minute meeting with Kibaki or her talks with Odinga. Kabira read a statement that quoted Frazer as saying that “by extending an olive branch to the opposition, President Kibaki had shown his commitment to ending the political impasse.”

“She expressed optimism that all concerned parties will work together toward restoring normalcy in Kenya.”

“The President said he was ready to form a Government of National Unity that would not only unite Kenyans but would also help in the healing and reconciliation process,” the statement said.