US President Barack Obama must talk candidly to President Uhuru Kenyatta

This weekend, President Obama begins a visit to two pivotal African nations: Ethiopia, a semi-authoritarian state, and Kenya, a fragile democracy. Both have rapidly growing economies. Both are battling the virulent Al Shabaab terrorist insurgency.

The visit to Kenya has special significance, however, since the president is finally undertaking the “homecoming” Kenyans have impatiently awaited since 2009. Kenya is also where Mr Obama can make progress on problems that most matter to the United States, and in so doing put a troubled bilateral relationship back on track.