Kenya Leader Sees Reagan, Offers Mild Criticism of U.S. on S. Africa

President Daniel Arap Moi of Kenya told President Reagan on Thursday that Africa and the world are waiting for the United States to demonstrate “a deeper commitment” to the effort to end apartheid in South Africa.

But Moi, standing next to Reagan after a two-hour meeting at the White House, was restrained in his criticism, avoiding the sort of scathing condemnation of the U.S. “constructive engagement” policy toward South Africa that is common among African leaders. In turn, Reagan did not even mention charges of human rights abuses by Moi’s regime.

“I reminded President Reagan that in South Africa the values of human dignity our two countries cherish are being abused daily,” Moi said. “An end to apartheid is inevitable, and the sooner it comes, the less will be the bloodshed and violence. The world community in general, and Africa in particular, look upon the United States for a deeper commitment to this cause.”

Reagan did not mention South Africa in his brief statement. A senior Administration official said later that Washington agrees with the Nairobi government that South Africa must ultimately end its policy of segregation. The official said that Moi, in his talks with Reagan, did not recommend any specific action he would like to see Washington take against apartheid.

“Many of our friends in Africa do us the honor of assuming that we have the power to simply wish things into effect,” said the official, who declined to be named.

Moi, on his second “working” visit to Washington since Reagan became President, also met with Vice President George Bush, Secretary of State George P. Shultz and Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger.

The senior Administration official said that Reagan, although he did not publicly mention the allegations of human rights abuses in Kenya, did raise the issue during his private meeting with Moi.

In its annual report on human rights around the world, the State Department last month said Kenya has engaged in arbitrary arrests and detentions of political opponents under deplorable conditions. The report also said “Moi and a small group of advisers control all major policy decisions. . . . Parliament plays a minor role in policy initiatives.”

Although there is no formal censorship, the report said, newspapers and broadcast stations are not allowed to deviate much from the government line.

Nevertheless, in his statement, Reagan said the United States and Kenya “share a commitment to the principles of representative government, private ownership and individual freedom.”