Obama makes first trip to Kenya as President (July 2015)

Barack Obama lands in Nairobi for GES 2015



US President Barack Obama (right) talks with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta as he signs a guestbook upon his arrival on Air Force One at Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi on July 24, 2015. PHOTO | SAUL LOEB | AFP

By AGGREY MUTAMBO & JOHN NGIRACHU

In Summary

• The journey had taken him from Washington to south-western Germany at the Ramstein Air Force Base before he reconnected to Nairobi.
• Mr Obama was also accompanied by his National Security Advisor Susan Rice, Foreign Policy aide Ben Rhodes and White House Spokesman Josh Earnest
  
  
  US President Barack Obama on Friday landed in Nairobi on his first trip to Kenya as President, ending a long wait for his arrival in the land of his father.
  
  President Obama’s plane, Air Force One, touched down at 8:02pm.
  
  He emerged 18 minutes later and waved briefly at the door before meeting the small crowd that awaited him.
  
  BROAD SMILE
  
  In a black suit and a blue tie, and wearing his trademark broad smile, he then took a bouquet from eight-year-old Joan Wamaitha, a pupil at Mariakani Primary School in South C.
  
  He then shook President Kenyatta’s hand and embraced him before being introduced to a host of senior government officials, Mr Kenyatta’s sons Jomo and Jaba and Mr Obama’s half-sister, Auma.
  
  
  
  US President Barack Obama disembarks from Air Force One upon his arrival in Nairobi on July 24, 2015. PHOTO | SAUL LOEB | AFP.
  
  The government officials included Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed, Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho, Defence CS Raychelle Omamo, National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, Chief of Staff Joseph Kinyua, Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero and Interior CS Joseph Nkaissery.
  
  President Obama then warmly embraced his sister, with whom he later rode in his official limousine.
  
  
  President Obama (centre) greets his half-sister Auma Obama alongside Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta upon his arrival in Nairobi on July 24, 2015. PHOTO | SAUL LOEB | AFP
  
  President Obama signed the visitors book, chatted briefly with President Kenyatta and was then directed towards his official vehicle, popularly known as The Beast.
  
  On the car were flags of Kenya and the United States, perhaps a fitting symbol of the two countries that claim him; the United States as the country of his birth and Kenya, the land of his father.
  
  Because of his paternity, Kenyans claim him as their son.
  
  After President Obama’s 35-vehicle convoy had left, President Kenyatta and his entourage milled about as they waited for their transport back into the city.
  
  
  President Obama waves alongside Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta upon arrival in Nairobi on July 24, 2015. PHOTO | SAUL LOEB | AFP.
  
  The President waited for his vehicles to arrive from the Presidential Pavilion.
  
  President Obama is in Nairobi for the Global Entrepreneurship Summit.
  
  Before he arrived, JKIA was put on lockdown.
  
  The airspace was shut for about one hour, security tightened and everyone at Terminal Two, whether journalist or government official, screened, twice.
  
  Whether US or Kenyan officials, the procedure was the same; you had to be screened.
  
  Even Airport Security Manager Eric Kiraithe was inspected before he was allowed in.
  
  
  President Obama chats with President Kenyatta as he signs the guestbook on his arrival in Nairobi. PHOTO | JOAN PERERUAN | NATION MEDIA GROUP.
  
  The preparations to receive Mr Obama had been made long in advance and when, at 8pm, American Ambassador Robert Godec, Joan, his handler and Auma began walking towards the reception point, it became evident that President Obama had arrived.
  
  The Press, on board a trailer, began to click away as the plane taxied towards the new terminal, where the Americans had set up base.
  
  The journey had taken President Obama from Washington to south-western Germany at the American Ramstein Air Force Base before he connected to Nairobi.
  
  Mr Obama was also accompanied by his National Security Adviser Susan Rice, Foreign Policy aide Ben Rhodes and White House Spokesman Josh Earnest, House representatives, including members of the Black Caucus and senators.
  
  
  President Obama greets Kenya's Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery on arrival. PHOTO | JOAN PERERUAN | NATION MEDIA GROUP.
  
  The senators travelling with President Obama are Chris Coons, Jeff Flakes and Ed Markey. All except Mr Flakes are Democrats.
  
  Representatives include Karen Bass, George Kenneth Butterfield, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Barbara Lee, Gregory Meeks, Charlie Rangel, Terri Sewell, Emanuel Cleaver, John Conyers, Marcia Fudge, Al Green, Sheila Jackson Lee, Robin Kelly, Gwen Moore, Donald Payne, Cedric Richmond and Bennie Thompson.
  
  Some of Mr Obama’s officials had already arrived in Nairobi ahead of him.
  
  They include US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and Chief of Staff Jim Hock.
  
  
  President Obama attends a gathering of family at his hotel in Nairobi. PHOTO | SAUL LOEB | AFP.
  
  The huge delegation could signify the importance Mr Obama is attaching to his first visit to Kenya as president.
  
  Though his visit is not a state visit, the rituals at the JKIA indicated the Kenyan Government had turned it into one.
  
  Normally, the President may appoint someone else to usher in a visiting head of state if that leader is not on a state visit.
  
  On Friday, President Kenyatta himself was there to receive Mr Obama.
  
  http://www.nation.co.ke/news/Barack-...z/-/index.html

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