I’m sorry, US President Barack Obama tells his K’ogelo relatives

US President Barack Obama may be the most powerful man in the world, but Saturday afternoon, he wore his Kenyan hat, and apologised to his relatives for not making to visit them in the village.

In the safety of State House, the residence of the President of Kenya, the US leader blamed a tight schedule, the security requirements and the obligation to push the interests of the US, as the reason why he could not go to the village in Western Kenya, where his father is buried.

"Given the demands of the job and the bubble, I can't come here and just go upcountry and visit for a week and meet everybody. That is part of what I had to explain. I was begging for forgiveness that once I am a private citizen, I will have more freedom to reconnect and to be involved and engaged in some of the work that needs to be done," said Obama, at a news conference in State House, Nairobi.

For a man who began his speech with "Habari" – a Swahili greeting for "Hello"—and ended it with "asante sana" (Thank you very much), Obama appeared eager to return and mingle with Kenyans as soon as his term ends, and even promised to bring his wife, Michelle.

He said once he leaves the White House in January 2017, he will have more time in his hands to come back home.

"I am more restricted ironically as President of United States than I will be as a private citizen, part of it because of schedule, and part of it in making sure that in my relationship to Kenya, I am understood to be operating as the President of the United States," said Obama.

With the world's media focused on him, through the hundreds of camera lenses, Obama had a special mention for the people of his father's village.

"I have a special acknowledgement to everybody in Alego, in Kogelo and Kisumu. I am well aware that the enthusiasm in my visit is something bigger," said Obama.

Obama lifted the lid on his private dinner with his extended family at the five-star, Kempinski Hotel. He said "most of it was just catching up", and expressed shock that he met relatives he didn't know he had.

"There were extended family members that I have not met before. My sister Auma, who I am very close to and whom I stay in close contact with, ensured that everybody was represented. I think the people of Kenya will be familiar with the need to manage family politics in these extended families. There were cousins, uncles and aunties who showed up that I didn't know existed. It was a wonderful time," said Obama, as he let out a cheeky chuckle.

Obama then made a guarantee, not just to Kenya, but to the eager villagers, who really wanted to see their son in the village eating his grandmother's smoked fish and stewed chicken.

"This is what I can guarantee, I will be back. The next time I am back, I may not be wearing a suit. The first time I was here I was in jeans and a backpack," he said, then promised to carry along Michelle, and his daughters Malia and Sasha.