NAIROBI, March 9 (Xinhua) -- United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrived in Kenya on Friday evening for a three-day official visit amid tight security in the capital, Nairobi, and its environs.

Tillerson is expected to hold several meetings in the country, including meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta on topics such as trade, global terrorism and emerging issues after the 2017 general elections.

"In Kenya, Secretary Tillerson will meet with President Uhuru Kenyatta and other government officials. Tillerson will focus on continued support for the democratic process in Kenya, refugee issues, and press freedom," the U.S. embassy said in a brief statement issued before the top diplomat's arrival in Nairobi.

Tillerson's Africa visit includes Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Nigeria. On Wednesday, he flew to Ethiopia at the start of his first diplomatic trip to the continent.