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Obama visit an endorsement of Uhuru – Amina

Amina says it is evident that he believes the, "right leadership," is in office/FILE

Amina says it is evident that he believes the, “right leadership,” is in office/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 23 – Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed says US President Barack Obama’s decision to visit Kenya when President Uhuru Kenyatta is in office is an endorsement of the Jubilee government.

Amina says it is evident that he believes the, “right leadership,” is in office.

“It actually says a lot about the leadership of our country. This is the time that a sitting President of the United States has chosen to come here says we have the right leadership at this moment for our country.”

US Ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec says the choice of Kenya as the host country for the premier Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Sub-Saharan Africa is testament to Kenya’s potential to become an economic powerhouse.

He said Kenya has the added significance of being Obama’s father’s homeland.

He also said, “it underscored the fact that the US partnership with Kenya, the Kenyan government and its people has never been stronger.”

Following President Kenyatta’s election, there were questions as to how the Kenyan and US governments would relate given ex-US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson threat of, “consequences,” should Kenyans vote into office as President and his Deputy, men facing charges before the International Criminal Court.

President Kenyatta avoided the subject on Tuesday when he took questions on Obama’s highly anticipated visit at State House Nairobi, terming it a, “non-issue.”

On the subject of whether his Deputy William Ruto will be allowed, “essential only,” access to Obama given he’s still facing charges before the ICC, President Kenyatta said, “Obama is coming to meet the Kenyan government and last I checked, the Deputy President was part of the Kenyan Government.”

READ: Uhuru side-steps gay rights, ICC ahead of Obama visit

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The subject came up again on the eve of Obama’s arrival on Thursday at the Harambee House press briefing hosted by Amina and Godec.

Amina said it would be, “highly unusual,” for Ruto to hold separate talks with Obama unless President Kenyatta was indisposed by way of explaining the remarks made by National Security Advisor Susan Rice on the same.

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