US President Obama’s visit to Kenya

An official trip of the U.S. President, one of the busiest people in the world, is far from an entertaining travel. A hectic schedule awaits the president and the president needs to deliver a clear message, which meets the purpose of the visit. This held true with Barack Obama’s visit to Kenya for three days and two nights from Friday, which was the first visit since he took office in the White House. Some critics say this visit to Kenya was somewhat lackluster.

As the first schedule after his arrival to the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Friday, President Obama dined with his father’s family. He had a dinner with 30 Kenyan relatives including his step grandmother Sarah Obama and his half-sister Auma Obama, talking about lives in the White House and in Kenya. Obama’s visit to his father’s hometown Kogelo, which had drew keen attentions from the world, was not accomplished.

One relative said in an interview with local media, “Some of them told Mr. Obama they wished he could spend more time in Kenya and with them. President Obama later said that his schedule did not allow it and explained to the family members the nature of his work.” Obama’s step grandmother insisted that the president should visit the tomb of his father in accordance with tradition of the Luo tribe as Obama couldn’t attend the funeral of his father who died when he was 10 years old. But it also didn’t come true.

President Obama expressed a different opinion over gay equality from Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta during the press conference after the summit on Saturday. President Obama urged the Kenyan government to abandon anti-gay discrimination laws, saying that it is not right to discriminate or abuse people because of “who they love”. In return, the Kenyan president publicly disagreed with Obama and said, “There are some things that we must admit we don’t share.”

The New York Times reported Obama’s visit to Kenya was in an upbeat tone in general but there were some notes of discord, too.