As US President Barack Obama prepares for his exit from the White House, it is important to look back on his relationship with Kenyan leaders.
Kenyans.co.ke researched on an incident in September 2009 when President Obama failed to have lunch with ODM leader Raila Odinga.
After flying for more than 18 hours, Odinga arrived in New York on the morning of September 19, 2009.
The then Prime Minister travelled for, among other agendas, a luncheon with President Obama arranged by the White House.
The lunch was meant for selected leaders from sub-Saharan Africa and was to be held on the sidelines of the 64th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
A week earlier, the then Prime Minister had received the prestigious invite through the Kenyan Embassy in Washington DC.
Things started going south on Friday night when the then New York-based Kenyan ambassador to the UN, Zachary Muburi-Muita was contacted by Obama’s team to “disinvite” Mr Odinga from the luncheon that was only three days away.
The Nation reported that the cancellation was due to an error in sending the invite given that the meeting was exclusively meant for African Heads of State and not heads of government.
The excuse was later contradicted by the White House which stated that President Obama would hold a meeting with “responsible” heads of state and governments from sub-Saharan Africa.
At the time, the US was reported to have been frustrated by the Kenyan government’s failure to effectively contain corruption, ethnic violence, and human rights abuses.
It remains unclear the reaction from Odinga upon receiving news of the belated cancellation.
However, the Kenyan ambassador to the UN complained over the turn of events, questioning why the invitation was issued in the first place, only to be rescinded.
“This is something we expect from a third world country, not from the United States,” the Ambassador told the press.
Odinga went on to participate in the Opening of the 64th Session of the UN General Assembly and General Debate.
