US President Barack Obama speaks during a joint press conference with his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru kenyatta following their talks at State House in Nairobi on July 25, 2015. PHOTO | JOAN PERERUAN | NATION MEDIA GROUP
By JUSTUS WANGA
United States President Barack Obama on Saturday promised to increase funding for Kenya’s war against terrorism.
President Obama said collaboration between Kenya and the US had borne fruit but more needed to be done to complete the job.
“We stand united in the fight against terrorism and we will be channelling more money towards this,” he said.
Mr Obama said the ongoing campaign against Al-Shabaab terrorists had significantly managed to push the insurgents out of swathes of territories in Somalia.
“Al-Shabaab prefer soft targets because of this,” he said.
The pledge to increase funding against the terrorist group was one of a series of promises that the US leader made to Kenyans as his visit came to a climax on Saturday.
Standing on a stump at State House in the land of his father, President Obama said that his government would support reforms in key institutions of government.
“We are working with the Kenyan government to strengthen the Judiciary as well as reforms in the police,” he declared.
On the controversial subject of travel advisories against Kenya by the US government in the face of terror attacks, Mr Obama said that his hands were tied by the decision of the experts but also signalled his willingness to help by coming to Kenya to demonstrate to the world that there are safe parts to visit.
But he was categorical that the decision to issue the travel warnings was the mandate of security experts at the State Department and other arms of the US government and not a political decision that he could take alone.
PROMISES TO THE COUNTRY
The US leader announced a basketful of promises to the country which has been expectantly waiting for the trip since he was first sworn into office more than six years ago.
From funding the war on terrorism to changing the visa regime for Kenyan students and investors, Mr Obama announced that he was here to deepen the relationship between the two countries.
His host President Uhuru Kenyatta said that fighting terrorism was a challenge to his government and asked for American support.
“We are improving our capacity and methods in dealing with terror. For us to succeed, we will be looking up to countries such as the US with more experience to deal with it,” he said.
Kenyan students and those doing business in the US will see their visa period extended from the current one year to five years.
Mr Obama promised that more goodies would be on the way once he leaves White House, saying the demands of the office could only allow him to do so much.
“I will not stop being interested in Africa afterwards,” he said.
Acknowledging the role the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEFFA) had played in helping prolong lives of thousands of HIV infected patients, Mr Obama said he had given the kitty a boost by increasing financial allocation to bring more patients on board and eliminate infections among the adolescent as a step towards eradicating it.
KENYAN ROOTS
The President, who traces his roots to Kenya, said his government was working on a programme to hasten the launch of direct flights between Kenya and the US “very soon”.
But he said there were issues that needed to be sorted out before this could become a reality.
“I do not want to give a definite time because when we delay you will say I lied. There are certain protocol issues that must be followed on this,” he said to the gathering of top government officials from both countries and journalists.
The development would see more direct foreign investment to Kenya, which is the economic hub of the East African region, a fact acknowledged by Mr Obama himself yesterday.
The US government would also pump in more money through the Power Africa Project, an initiative that seeks to connect more households with electricity, particularly those far from the national grid.
He also said his government had prohibited the sale of ivory in the US, a statement that would go a long way in helping anti-poaching campaign.
Aware that every move he made affecting Kenya was being closely watched by his opponents back home, the leader of the world’s super power said he did not want to be seen as playing favourite to Kenya, explaining why it had taken him six years to come to his father’s birth place.
“Occasional disagreements is not a rapture of friendship,” Mr Obama said in response to a question on the Kenya “look East” policy. This perception arose from the strained relationship between the two countries over the ICC cases that faced President Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto.
Mr Kenyatta’s case has since been dropped while Mr Ruto’s awaits crucial decisions.
DEAL WITH CORRUPTION
Mr Obama reiterated the commitment of his country to help Mr Kenyatta deal with corruption in government, offering technical support towards the same.
A ceremonial 21 gun salute had earlier been accorded Mr Obama, who is referred to as President of the free world.
He also promised to visit his father’s birth place in Kogelo, Siaya County, and engage in philanthropic work in the future, explaining that the complex nature of his office had restricted him from doing so now.
But Mr Obama also urged Mr Kenyatta to nurture press freedom, pointing out that it was crucial in enhancing democracy.
“A free press makes a nation stronger and leaders more accountable,” he said.
Beneath the show of solidarity, he also signalled that the war on corruption must not only be fought but seen to be won.
President Obama and his host did not, however, agree on all subjects with discussion about gay rights being the point of departure. Mr Kenyatta insisted that the subject was inconsistent with the African culture and it was thus imprudent to force it on Kenyans. He also reiterated that the subject was not on top of Kenyans minds at the moment.
Deputy President William Ruto and all members of the Kenyan Cabinet were present at the function.
The US President, who is in the country for a three-day visit, was scheduled to attend a state banquet in his honour last evening.
President Obama arrived at State House shortly after 2pm and received a 21 gun salute after which he inspected a guard of honour mounted by a detachment of the Kenya Air Force. Earlier in the afternoon, he had visited the memorial park for the 1998 US Embassy bombing where he laid a wreath in honour of those who died and paid tribute to survivors.
Speaking after their bilateral meetings, the two presidents expressed confidence in the direction the Kenya-US partnership was headed.
CREDIT: NATION MEDIA
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