Obama reunites with father�s family in Kenya

Agencies, Nairobi: President Barack Obama struck a personal note as he returned to his father’s homeland Kenya this weekend, openly embracing his extended family during his first visit as commander and chief. “There’s a reason why my name is Barack Hussein Obama,” he said yesterday at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Nairobi yesterday. “My father came from these parts and I have family and relatives here, and in my visits over the years walking the streets of Nairobi I’ve come to know the warmth and spirit of the Kenyan people,” he said.
Obama fulfilled the hopes of millions of Kenyans when he visited Kenya Friday. It is the first such visit by a sitting president, and a long sought visit by a country that considers him a local son.
He also spoke about the importance of cultivating entrepreneurship, and heralded Africa as a continent “on the move.”
“Africa is one of the fastest growing regions of the world,” Obama said. “People are being lifted out of poverty.”
The White House unveiled more than $1 billion new commitments from the US government, as well as American banks, foundations and philanthropists. Half of the money will go to support women and young people, who Obama says face bigger obstacles when trying to start businesses.
The president spent Friday evening reuniting with his Kenyan family, including his elderly step-grandmother who made the trip to the capital of Nairobi from her rural village.
US and Kenyan flags lined the main road from Nairobi’s airport, and billboards heralding Obama’s trip dotted the city.
“I don’t think that Kenyans think of Obama as African-American. They think of him as Kenyan-American,” said EJ Hogendoorn, deputy program director for Africa at the International Crisis Group.
Obama’s link to Kenya is a father he barely knew, but whose influence can nonetheless be seen in his son’s presidency. Obama has spoken candidly about growing up without his Kenyan-born father and feeling “the weight of that absence.”

Obama reunites with father�s family in Kenya

Agencies, Nairobi: President Barack Obama struck a personal note as he returned to his fathers homeland Kenya this weekend, openly embracing his extended family during his first visit as commander and chief. Theres a reason why my name is Barack Hussein Obama, he said yesterday at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Nairobi yesterday. My father came from these parts and I have family and relatives here, and in my visits over the years walking the streets of Nairobi Ive come to know the warmth and spirit of the Kenyan people, he said. Obama fulfilled the hopes of millions of Kenyans when he visited Kenya Friday. It is the first such visit by a sitting president, and a long sought visit by a country that considers him a local son. He also spoke about the importance of cultivating entrepreneurship, and heralded Africa as a continent on the move. Africa is one of the fastest growing regions of the world, Obama said. People are being lifted out of poverty. The White House unveiled more than $1 billion new commitments from the US government, as well as American banks, foundations and philanthropists. Half of the money will go to support women and young people, who Obama says face bigger obstacles when trying to start businesses. The president spent Friday evening reuniting with his Kenyan family, including his elderly step-grandmother who made the trip to the capital of Nairobi from her rural village. US and Kenyan flags lined the main road from Nairobis airport, and billboards heralding Obamas trip dotted the city. I dont think that Kenyans think of Obama as African-American. They think of him as Kenyan-American, said EJ Hogendoorn, deputy program director for Africa at the International Crisis Group. Obamas link to Kenya is a father he barely knew, but whose influence can nonetheless be seen in his sons presidency. Obama has spoken candidly about growing up without his Kenyan-born father and feeling the weight of that absence.