Former US President Barack Obama yesterday landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) amidst a hushed reception. Obama’s arrival is a stark contrast to his Friday July 24, 2015 visit when there was complete shutdown of the country. Obama arrived a few minutes after 1pm and headed to State House from the airport to meet with President Uhuru Kenyatta, before later meeting Opposition leader Raila Odinga at Kepimsky Hotel. Today, he will leave for his ancestral home in K’Ogelo in Siaya County. His plane is expected to land at Kisumu International Airport before he proceeds to his ancestral village which is 70km away.

President Kenyatta congratulated the former US president for establishing the Obama Foundation which seeks to empower the youth to become agents of change in Africa. Obama’s meeting with Raila focused on the Building Bridges Initiative of President Kenyatta and Mr Odinga, youth empowerment and education, and Kenya’s efforts to bring peace to South Sudan. According to Press statement from the former Prime Minister’s office, during the talks, Mr. Obama expressed full support for the Building Bridges Initiative and war on corruption. Induct the youth “The former US President called for greater induction of the youth into the initiative to ensure its deepening into the future,” read the statement. But it was a cat-and-mouse game for local journalists who followed the visit of the immediate former United States of America president yesterday. Unlike his visit in 2015 as US President that was meticulously organised, many journalists were turned back since they were not accredited.  At JKIA, media crew who arrived before the former president touched down, were blocked at the entrance and only spotted his convoy snaking out of the airport off to State House. Another group of reporters who arrived after Obama had left were however allowed in, only to be informed that the US president was already on his way to meet President Uhuru Kenyatta. Later, word went round that Obama was to meet Opposition leader Raila Odinga at his Capitol Hill offices.

The venue was later changed to Kepimsky. But journalists were also turned away at the hotel by security officers after being informed that only those accredited were allowed to access the hotel where the two leaders had already started their meeting. Ahead of his trip to Siaya County today, Nyanza regional police boss Leonard Katana stated that the road leading to the home of Obama’s grandmother will be off-limits to the public, with only a few able to join the family for the reunion. “Though the roads may not be closed, there will be limited access only to those who have been accredited by the family. This will be a private affair and we want it to remain that way,” he said. Obama’s strict programme did not go down well with residents of Kogelo. According to South East Alego MCA Joseph Mboha, it is wrong for Mr Obama to visit Kogelo and not meet the people.

The strict programme notwithstanding, local politicians, church leaders, elders and the youth were last evening polishing their memoranda, which they plan to hand over to the former US President whose father hailed from the village. Although chances of accessing the Sauti Kuu Vocational Centre compound where Obama will be inaugurating the institution appeared remote due to tough security, the groups said they are determined to hand over their wish lists to Obama. Kisumu Governor Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, who will meet Obama at the Kisumu Airport this morning, said he will not put any request to him.