From Ummulkhairi Sympathy, Kenya
Former US President Barack Obama arrived in Nairobi, Kenya yesterday for a quick family visit before he heads to South Africa to attend Nelson Mandela’s birthday tribute.
He was received by his sister Auma Obama at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and other dignitaries as this being his first trip to the country of his father’s birth since leaving office. After his arrival, he met Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta at the state house, opposition leader Raila Odinga and other top officials.
Today the former president will attend the inauguration of a sports and vocational center founded by his sister, Auma Obama with whom he shares a father but have different mothers.
Given that his own mission under the Obama Foundation is to inspire and empower the youths to change the world, his attendance at this event at his ancestral home in Kogelo, Siaya County, where his father was laid to rest, is of great significance to the Foundation.
Artists painted murals of Obama on the streets of his father’s hometown while some bars advertised a drink called the “Obama brew.” On Twitter, Kenyans are using hashtags like #Obamareturns and #Obamakaributena, which in Swahili means “Obama welcome again”.
Later today, Obama will head to South Africa, where he’ll meet with President Cyril Ramaphosa and speak at an event in honor of the late Nelson Mandela’s birthday in Johannesburg.
He will also have a meeting with 200 new leaders of the Obama Foundation in Africa.
According to Katie Hill, a spokeswoman for the former President, President Obama looks forward to meeting these new leaders for the first time, hearing about the extraordinary work they are doing across Africa, and discussing how the Obama Foundation can support their civic leadership development.
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