Obama’s visit to Kenya served to endorse an undeserving regime

It gives me no pleasure to write this critique — post-mortem — of President Barack Hussein Obama’s visit to Kenya. That’s because I support many of Mr Obama’s policies in the United States. He’s a transformational figure. But his visit last month to Kenya was driven by sinister motives. Simply put, Mr Obama’s Kenyan “homecoming” was a disaster for democracy and human rights. The son of K’Ogelo — who’s the world’s most powerful human — squandered the prestige and power of his office to bestow recognition on a corrupt and illiberal regime that’s bereft of basic decency and legitimacy. He cavorted with, and glad-handed, high priests of corruption and mal-governance. Then he shunned and humiliated democrats and truth-tellers. Let me tell you why.

Beneath President Obama’s toothy charming smiles — and highfalutin speeches — lay a two-pronged geopolitical agenda. Only a fool would buy the boondoggle of the Global Entrepreneurship Summit as the reason for his jaunt to Kenya. That feel-good junket was simply cover for being hosted by a questionable regime. Nothing will eventually come of it — nada. The GES was subterfuge — clear and straightforward. That’s why POTUS only spent a nanosecond on it. Even there, Mr Obama made sure he stamped Jubilee’s Uhuru Kenyatta with American imprimatur. He treated him like an equal by sharing co-hosting duties. Those who read tea leaves knew what was up. Like a Catholic priest, Mr Obama came to forgive Mr Kenyatta’s sins, but without a confession.