Barack Obama to Return to Kenya on June 16

Former United States President Barack Obama is expected to arrive in Kenya on June 16th.

He is set to jet into the country for a one-day visit that will see him hold talks with President Uhuru Kenyatta and visit his grandmother's home in K'ogelo, Siaya County.

It remains highly likely that he will also meet opposition leaders such as National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga.

Obama will leave the country for South Africa the next day where he is lined up to deliver the annual Nelson Mandela lecture.

“The visit has been on the cards for the last two weeks. The exact timelines are not yet confirmed but he will visit Kenya en route to South Africa,” a source close to theplaning of the trip told Nation.

[caption caption="Barack Obama in Kibera in 2006"][/caption]

The visit will be Obama's fifth to his father's home country, with the last having come in 2015 when he was still in office.

He left office on January 20, 2016 and was replaced by Donald Trump who beat the Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton in a hard-fought election.

Obama had, in the past, promised to return to Kenya once he was done with his second term in office.

“I will be back to Kenya next time, maybe not in a suit. I would also come with (my daughters) Malia and Sasha. My family loves Kenya,” he stated.

In a speech at the Kasarani Stadium during his 2015 visit, Obama spoke at length on corruption and his latest trip comes at a time when the nation is gripped by multiple scandals that have seen taxpayers lose billions.

President Kenyatta has vowed to lead a renewed war on graft even as suspects are charged and investigations continue into theft at the National Youth Service (NYS), National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB), Kenya Pipeline and others.

[caption caption="Barack Obama in Nairobi in 1987"][/caption]

 

 

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