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Former US president meets Uhuru Kenyatta

Sunday July 15 2018
Obama

The motorcade carrying former US President Barack Obama makes its way along Uhuru Highway from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi on July 15, 2018. Mr Obama is in Kenya for a two-day visit. MARTRIN MUKANGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

By CHARLES OMONDI
By PSCU

Former US President Barrack Obama arrived in Kenya Sunday afternoon for a two-day visit that started with a courtesy call on President Uhuru Kenyatta.

President Kenyatta thanked the 44th US president for keeping his promise of visiting Kenya after his service, when he last visited the country in 2015.

Further, President Kenyatta congratulated him for establishing the Obama Foundation, which seeks to empower the youth to become the agents of change that the African continent needs.

Siaya Country

The two leaders agreed that the youth in Africa could become the continent’s most valuable asset if their energy and creativity were effectively harnessed.

Mr Obama will inaugurate the Sauti Kuu Foundation’s project in Siaya Country in western Kenya, where his father was born.

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The projects, run by his half sister, Dr Auma Obama, who accompanied him, comprise a sports and resource and vocational training centre.

Ancestral home

President Kenyatta who was joined by Deputy President William Ruto and other senior government officials, assured the former US leader that he could count on the support of all African leaders to scale-up youth programs under his Foundation.

President Kenyatta gifted the former US leader, himself a celebrated author-with two books on Kenya’s youth and success stories in the last 50 years, namely Aspirations of a generation, youth of Kenya and Kenya at 50

After inaugurating the Sauti Kuu Foundation and visiting his ancestral home in Alego Nyang’oma of Siaya County, Mr Obama will head to South Africa where he is expected to deliver the 16th Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture in Johannesburg.

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