Barack Obama visits his ancestral home in Nyanza

Former President Barack Obama has visited Kenya, his father’s native country, for the first time since leaving office. 

Mr Obama travelled to Kenya, for a two-day visit, to help support the launch of a sports, training and vocational centre founded by his half-sister, Dr Auma Obama, through her foundation Sauti Kuu, the Associated Press reported. Sauti Kuu aims to provide economic opportunities for young people in rural Kenya. Its new centre will help the youth acquire new skills through education and sports, the foundation’s website states. 

While in Kenya, Mr Obama visited Nyang’oma K’ogelo in Siaya County, the village where his father grew up. He also attended a launch event for Sauti Kuu’s new sports and vocational centre, where he delivered a speech detailing his first trip to Kenya, at 27 years old, and the time he spent with Ms Auma Obama. Mr Obama commended his sister for the opportunities her foundation provides the youth. 

Mr Obama can be seen dancing and later playing basketball during the launch ceremony for the centre.

(News item from The Independent)

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The first school we were posted to in 1968 was at Ng'iya Girls School for three months, while our house at Maranda School near Bondo was completed; and then after another year, we were transferred to Maseno School. So we got to know Nyang'oma K'ogelo and some of the people living there well.   Its quite likely we knew the future President Obama's father or family !

Another news item is that there have been riots and vandalism in many schools in Kenya in the last week, with students protesting about all sorts of things .... poor beds in the dormitories, the food, lack of teachers, etc.   The girls at Ng'iya Girls School even had the school closed down due to riots ....