News that US president Barrack Obama is scheduled to visit Kenya in July spread like bush fire in the country, after a post by president Uhuru Kenyatta announcing the same on his Facebook page yesterday.

“United States of America President Barack Obama will visit Kenya in July at my invitation,” read the update, which by the time this article was being published had garnered 22,857 LIKES, 4,405 comments and 1,444 shares.

The announcement, which was reiterated by the US white house in a press statement, has been welcomed by Kenyans, who have termed it as way long over due.

According to the press release by the US White House, president Obama will travel to Kenya, which will be playing host to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) in July.

“The Government of Kenya has agreed to co-host the 2015 Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) this July.  Organized annually since 2009, the GES has emerged as a global platform connecting emerging entrepreneurs with leaders from business, international organizations, and governments looking to support them.  This will be the first time the GES will take place in sub-Saharan Africa.

President Obama will travel to Kenya in July, where he will hold bilateral meetings and participate in the GES.  His trip will build on the success of the August 2014 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit and continue our efforts to work with countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya, to accelerate economic growth, strengthen democratic institutions, and improve security.  This will be President Obama’s fourth trip to sub-Saharan Africa during his presidency.” Read the statement by the US Press Secretary.

OBAMA HAS BEEN AVOIDING KENYA

Since he was elected the 44^th President of the United States on November 4^th, 2008, Obama has never set foot in Kenya and has skipped the country during his last two visits to Africa.

In June 2013, when he visited South Africa, Obama had however promised to visit his father’s land before the end of his presidency.

“If in three years and seven months I am not in Kenya, then you can fault me for not keeping my promise,” President Obama told a gathering of young African leaders at the University of Johannesburg, Soweto.

Kenyans had taken pretty much offence against Obama’s recurrent abstinence from his own homeland Kenya, considering that we even became the first country to declare a public holiday to celebrate his victory when he was first elected.

The US leader however maintained that he avoided Kenya during his recent tour because of ICC cases facing President Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto. The two having been facing crimes against humanity charges stemming from the 2007/08 post-election violence but ICC prosecutor, Bensouda dropped the charged against Uhuru early this year. 

Below are some of the reactions by Kenyans on social media, in response to the much anticipated Obama’s visit in July;

Shalom TikvaAhavah: 

Dear HE Uhuru,
Please address the issue of islamic global terrorism, the American sponsorship of terror related regimes and warring factions, the dangers of a nuclear Iran, and tell him not to insist on aid conditionsthat degrade our cultural and Judeo-Christians values: We are a conservative and a religious nation; we do NOT want to encourage homosexuality as a way of life in our nation and children, we do NOT want the murder of unborn children peddled as a form of birth and population control, we do NOT want economic investments that disenfranchises the local Kenyan communities, and we do NOT want to continue loosing our citizens and soldiers in wars not directly related to our welfare, and, as a majority Christian nation, we value and uphold the right of the nation of Israel to exist, to be free from terror and aggression from her enemies.
‘Proverbs 14:34 (KJV)
Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.’

Moroga’s Senior:

 It was long overdue, tell him to bring goodies…50billion USD inform of grants, not bad, we need F16s to replace our F5s to combat terrorism..

Phano M’Kenya:

Finally!!!!Traffic in Nairobi will be such as never witnessed before……activity will be a buzz…..hotels fully booked……one of them, perhaps entirely booked by “The USA”……folks will be extremely excited, businesses will be booming, tourism will record a new high after such a long time. East-West, home is best. Ja Kogello will be “home” and some jengs (luos) especially will really be excited. New music will be composed new T-shirts, new “drinks”….just to name but a few. ‪#‎ButDoISay!