Obama inspires hope in Kenyans in his last speech

KWAHERI OBAMA, KARIBU TENA: The US President boards Air Force One after three days in Kenya.

Barack Obama’s last day in Kenya turned out to be actually the most important of his tour. The US President addressed Kenyans in an emotional speech that resonated with both young and old, children and youth as well as the country’s leadership.

Mr Obama touched on key areas of corruption, security and development, talking with the preciseness of someone who had lived in Kenya long enough.  He easily gave statistics on development discripancies in Kenya, giving the example of lower life expectancy in Nyanza compared to Central Kenya and higher school enrolment in Nairobi compared to Rift Valley.

It was an occasion that proved his oratory prowess laced with humour when he praied Kenya’s first lady efforts and hoped “she will one day win the marathon” by following the footsteps of Kipchoge Keino.

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When he stepped on Kenyan soil on Friday, there was excitement across Kenya. And when he left yesterday, he left behind a hopeful people and a country breaming with optimism never seen since 2002 after KANU was kicked out of power.

Mr Obama called on Kenyans and its leaders to anchor their dreams for Kenya in hope and faith, but to also confront the malady of corruption, injustice and inequality, and promote democracy.

At about 4:30pm, as his Air Force One started its take of on the runway at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and into the cloudy skies on the trip to his next stop in Ethiopia, he had proved his point: he was truly a Kenyan son. It wll take time before Kenyans his tour takes the back seat in Kenyan discourse.

But for Kenyan security forces and his hosts, it was a sign of relief. The president’s security is elobarate and pecise to the small detail, giving local security a hard time.

His speech, in his words, should be understood to be from “a friend who means well for Kenya’’. And it came after he had narrated the story of his life, tying it firmly with that of tracing the roots of his father, to illustrate that he was neither a stranger to Kenya nor an intrusive outsider.

On Saturday, he promised to be back to Kenya as a private citizen.

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