Former US President Barack Obama arrived in Kenya on Sunday for a quick family visit before he heads to South Africa to attend Nelson Mandela’s birthday tribute.
This is his first trip to the country of his father’s birth since leaving office.
Obama met Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, opposition leader Raila Odinga and other top officials after his arrival. On Monday, he’ll attend the inauguration of a sports and vocational center founded by his sister, Auma Obama.
“Given that his own mission under the Obama Foundation is to inspire and empower people to change the world, his attendance at this event at our ancestral home, where our father was laid to rest, is of great significance to me,” Auma Obama said last month.
Artists painted murals of Obama on the streets of his father’s hometown of Kogelo, while some bars advertised a drink called the “Obama brew.” On Twitter, Kenyans are using hashtags like #Obamareturns and #Obamakaributena, which means ” Obama welcome again” in Swahili.
The center in Siaya County will provide educational and economic opportunities to help young people serve their communities — and shares a similar mission to his Obama Foundation.
Additional information by CNN