During his visit to Nairobi, US President Barack Obama met with his extended family for dinner, where they were served traditional Luo dishes.
Among the guests who dined with Obama were his grandmother, Mama Sarah, and sister, Auma Obama. According to Saidi Obama, the President's uncle, the family was served aliya, osuga, dek, apoth, mitoo, and ngege, among other delicacies.
Aliya is dried meat, while osuga, dek, apoth, and mitoo are traditional Luo vegetables. Ngege is dried tilapia fish.
Saidi Obama told the Daily Nation that the meeting lasted a few hours and that they were treated to a host of traditional food, especially Luo foods. He expressed his happiness at seeing his brother's son again.
President Obama described the reunion with his relatives as 'wonderful.' He stated that it was an opportunity for him to catch up with some relatives he did not even know existed.
The dinner was organized with the help of the US Embassy, and Obama's sister, Dr. Auma, introduced some of the relatives who had flown to Nairobi. The US leader expressed his desire to have visited Kenya more often but cited security and presidential responsibilities as restrictions.
