US President Barack Obama concluded his three-day tour in Kenya with a speech at Kasarani, leaving Kenyans motivated to implement key points he discussed.
Obama began his speech by noting he is the first American sitting president to visit Kenya and identified himself with Kenyans as the first Kenyan American President.
Personal Connection and Women's Rights ¶
He spoke about his relationship with his sister Auma Obama, which began 28 years ago, and shared a personal anecdote about his first visit to Kenya. Obama said,
"the last first time I was in Kenya I lost my bag at JKIA, that was the time my sister Auma picked me with an old Volkswagen Beetle which broke down five times on the way"
Obama emphasized the importance of treating women with respect and equality, urging Kenyans not to view women as second-class citizens. He argued that an educated woman is likely to give birth to educated children.
Corruption and Equality ¶
The president addressed corruption, stating that
"The country loses over 250,000 jobs annually due to corruption and tribalism"
. He called for equal prosecution of corruption cases, regardless of the individual's position in government.
Obama also stressed the need for equal treatment of all Kenyans, regardless of religion, race, tribe, or social background, saying that one's second name should not determine access to opportunities.
Security and Entrepreneurship ¶
After his speech, Obama met with civil society representatives at Kenyatta University. He pledged to work with Kenya to address extremism and the Al-Shabaab threat by sharing security intelligence reports with the Kenyan government.
Obama encouraged women and youth to develop an entrepreneurial spirit, seeking training and funding from the government to support their endeavors.
Democracy and Opposition ¶
The president emphasized the importance of true democracy, which he said is characterized by freedom of expression and opposition voices. He criticized some opposition leaders for
"double speak"
, saying
"when you were in Government you didn’t want America to speak about the ills in the government, now you are in opposition you want us to attack the Government"
.
Obama was expected to leave Kenya on Sunday at 4:30 PM.
