President Obama will spend private moments with family members and relatives in in Nairobi, a confirmation that he will not travel to the Kogelo village where his father was born, White House officials said.
The family members will be led by Obama’s step-grandmother, Sarah, who lives in Nyang’oma Kogelo village in Siaya county, where investment and sports events have been organised during his three-day visit.
“I do believe he’ll have an opportunity to spend some time privately with members of his family,” said Susan Rice, the National Security Adviser, while speaking of Obama’s Kenya trip at a White House press briefing.
Young Obama, pictured at his family’s home in the Kenyan homestead of Alego.
SEE ALSO: US PRESIDENT ON HIS WAY, TO FLY FOR 22 HOURS TO KENYA
It is not clear who among the family members Obama will meet, but they are likely to be drawn from the nuclear family that includes his half-brothers and sisters. Other members of Obama’s extended family will also be invited to some of the public events, Rice said.
She said Mr Obama will not visit his family’s ancestral village of Kogelo due to “time and logistical reasons,” according to Rice.
While Obama is in Kenya to strengthen economic ties, his personal connection to his father’s birthplace will dominate a trip that Kenyans view as a home-coming. “Just as anybody is curious about their heritage, visiting Kenya provides him an opportunity to make that personal connection,” Valerie Jarrett, a senior aide and family friend of Obama, said in an interview.
SEE ALSO: MICHELLE AND KIDS WON’T BE COMING: HERE IS WHY
In his home town in Siaya is a county investment forum took place at Senator Obama Primary School, near Sarah’s home, yesterdy. County Trade officer Joseph Ogutu said exhibitors would showcase their industrial, technical, artistic and cultural products.
He said this would help investors examine the viability of their areas of interest, “as will be the case at the Obama summit in Nairobi”.
He said rugby will take place on Friday and Saturday, and a half marathon around Lake Kanyaboli in August. Ogutu said only Ksh11 million for all the events, out of the Ksh52 million that had been budgeted for a visit by Obama, was raised.
Governor Cornel Rasanga had earlier said events to mark Obama’s homecoming would take place whether or not he visits Kogelo. “We are using the Obama summit as a motivator, but such events should continue long after he is gone,” he said.
NEXT READ: CNN, VILIFIED BY KENYANS, TONES TOWN TERROR HEADLINE
