Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday arrived in Juba for talks with South Sudanese President Salva Kiir.
The talks are expected to tackle the security situation in South Sudan, where a rebellion led by sacked vice president Riek Machar has entered its third month.
Kenya is a member of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), an East African trade bloc that is currently leading mediation efforts in Addis Ababa between Juba and Machar's camp.
South Sudan has been shaken by violence since last December, when Kiir accused Machar of standing behind a failed coup attempt against his regime.
The violence has already claimed more than 10,000 lives.
The UN estimates that some 3.7 million South Sudanese are now "severely food insecure," while more than 867,000 have been displaced by the fighting.
By Atem Simon
englishnews@aa.com.tr