Former United States of America President Barack Obama was in the country for a day visit where he opened the Sauti Kuu Centre in K’ogelo.
President Obama jetted into the country on Sunday and proceeded to K’ogelo on Monday to open up a center that had been set up by his stepsister, Dr. Auma Obama.
This was also the first time President Obama was traveling into the country as a private citizen and residents of K’ogelo, where his father comes from had spent days preparing a grand welcome for him.
Kenyans, however, took issues with Obama when they learned that their ‘son’ had been in Tanzania, at the prestigious Serengeti for eight days, only for him to come to the country of his father for a day.
The more disappointed lot, however, were residents of K’ogelo, where Obama was visiting. First, only 1,000 guests had been accredited and allowed to access the venue of Sauti Kuu. This locked out thousands of residents who had hoped to catch a glimpse of their ‘son’.
At some point, the residents tried to storm the event but the heavy police presence could not let them in and they had to contend with the idea that ‘their’ son was so near yet so far.
Thousands of them opted to line themselves up on the roadside, with songs and dance as they prayed that their son would at least make a stop and wave at them. Students and pupils from both Senator Barack Obama secondary and the primary school had suspended classes on Monday to welcome ‘one of their own.’
To their disappointment, Obama used another route only for them to hear over the news that Obama was already in Nairobi and on his way to South Africa.
The peace initiative
Obama hailed the ‘handshake’ between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga saying that it was for the common good of the people of Kenya.
Obama also called on the government to intensify the fight against corruption saying that it is only through that that the country will realize meaningful developments.