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| #SomeonetellCNN that Kenya is gripped by Obama-mania | #SomeonetellCNN that Kenya is gripped by Obama-mania |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Barack Obama will touch down in his father’s ancestral home this week for the first time since becoming US president, where he is expected to be greeted by his counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta and thousands of expectant Kenyans. | Barack Obama will touch down in his father’s ancestral home this week for the first time since becoming US president, where he is expected to be greeted by his counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta and thousands of expectant Kenyans. |
| The main purpose of the visit is a global entrepreneurship summit, but there have been calls for him to address everything from al-Shabaab to gay rights by those who are frustrated by the vagueness of his African policy so far. | The main purpose of the visit is a global entrepreneurship summit, but there have been calls for him to address everything from al-Shabaab to gay rights by those who are frustrated by the vagueness of his African policy so far. |
| Adekeye Adebajo wrote in a recent article that the president’s track record on Africa is more style than substance, arguing that although Obama “clearly identifies with the continent” he has failed to translate this into meaningful action. | Adekeye Adebajo wrote in a recent article that the president’s track record on Africa is more style than substance, arguing that although Obama “clearly identifies with the continent” he has failed to translate this into meaningful action. |
| In Nairobi, there were accusations that the capital was being whitewashed in a last-minute attempt to clean-up the streets for his trip. Last week, Robert Alai, a influential blogger based in the city, tweeted a picture that appeared to show street kids being rounded up, whilst AFP reported that children were being kept out of the city centre. | In Nairobi, there were accusations that the capital was being whitewashed in a last-minute attempt to clean-up the streets for his trip. Last week, Robert Alai, a influential blogger based in the city, tweeted a picture that appeared to show street kids being rounded up, whilst AFP reported that children were being kept out of the city centre. |
| NYS rounding up Nairobi street kids last night #ObamaInKenya pic.twitter.com/hjjZX3He60 | NYS rounding up Nairobi street kids last night #ObamaInKenya pic.twitter.com/hjjZX3He60 |
| Yet despite the criticism, a hive of online activity shows a country in the grips of Obama-mania with public officials trying to spruce up the streets; artists offering up their best creative interpretations of the visit; and a group of students making some very bizarre demands. | Yet despite the criticism, a hive of online activity shows a country in the grips of Obama-mania with public officials trying to spruce up the streets; artists offering up their best creative interpretations of the visit; and a group of students making some very bizarre demands. |
| Will one of Obama’s ‘beasts’ hit a pothole? | Will one of Obama’s ‘beasts’ hit a pothole? |
| Nairobi’s traffic is the stuff of legend: residents have to contend with world’s fourth worst commute and potholes are so bad they’ve sparked major protests. | Nairobi’s traffic is the stuff of legend: residents have to contend with world’s fourth worst commute and potholes are so bad they’ve sparked major protests. |
| This has led Kenyans to question how the president will get around, and whether his 50 “beasts” – a fleet of armoured limos which landed in Kenya ahead of the trip – will be able to cope. | This has led Kenyans to question how the president will get around, and whether his 50 “beasts” – a fleet of armoured limos which landed in Kenya ahead of the trip – will be able to cope. |
| Kidero shifts focus to Thika road #ObamaInKenya pic.twitter.com/OIcxxE4MOj | Kidero shifts focus to Thika road #ObamaInKenya pic.twitter.com/OIcxxE4MOj |
| Quartz Africa reported that the roads were in line for some emergency “ObamaCare” treatment – a reference to the president’s sweeping healthcare reform – as street lights were fixed, sidewalks rebuilt and potholes filled in. | Quartz Africa reported that the roads were in line for some emergency “ObamaCare” treatment – a reference to the president’s sweeping healthcare reform – as street lights were fixed, sidewalks rebuilt and potholes filled in. |
| Kenyans were unimpressed that it has taken such a high profile guest for the city authorities to finally swing into action. When social activist Boniface Mwangi (@Boniface Mwangi) tweeted to say that the road leading to Kenyatta’s residence had “finally” been sorted out, others wished they could be so lucky, too. | |
| They have finally sealed the potholed road that leads to the president's residence and office. Obama effect in #Kenya pic.twitter.com/hnhzAjjtZK | They have finally sealed the potholed road that leads to the president's residence and office. Obama effect in #Kenya pic.twitter.com/hnhzAjjtZK |
| How does your garden grow? | How does your garden grow? |
| In what was derided as a desperate last-ditch attempt to beautify the capital, on Tuesday governor Evans Kidero tweeted a plea to the residents to keep off the grass for the sake of a “greener city”. | In what was derided as a desperate last-ditch attempt to beautify the capital, on Tuesday governor Evans Kidero tweeted a plea to the residents to keep off the grass for the sake of a “greener city”. |
| We plant grass every year and people keep on stamping and killing them. Please keep off #KideroGrass for a greener city. | We plant grass every year and people keep on stamping and killing them. Please keep off #KideroGrass for a greener city. |
| Twitter responded by jumping on his hashtag, #KideroGrass, to point out that Kidero himself partial to the occasional grassy walk, and to ask how he expected patches of brown dust to transform into luscious green lawns in the three days before Obama’s arrival. | Twitter responded by jumping on his hashtag, #KideroGrass, to point out that Kidero himself partial to the occasional grassy walk, and to ask how he expected patches of brown dust to transform into luscious green lawns in the three days before Obama’s arrival. |
| TAFADHALI! Allow #KideroGrass to grow, governor begs Nairobians. http://t.co/xsHZAhLUum pic.twitter.com/He8cns1rgL | TAFADHALI! Allow #KideroGrass to grow, governor begs Nairobians. http://t.co/xsHZAhLUum pic.twitter.com/He8cns1rgL |
| Some suggested a sprinkling of Aromat seasoning could achieve miracle results, others asked whether painters could be called in to spray it? Failing that, maybe Obama could be fooled into seeing the city through green-tinted spectacles? | Some suggested a sprinkling of Aromat seasoning could achieve miracle results, others asked whether painters could be called in to spray it? Failing that, maybe Obama could be fooled into seeing the city through green-tinted spectacles? |
| #KideroGrass needs some Aromat salvation. Cc @ComedyCentralKE pic.twitter.com/2Z0uJOdk50 | #KideroGrass needs some Aromat salvation. Cc @ComedyCentralKE pic.twitter.com/2Z0uJOdk50 |
| Finally a solution for #Kiderograss pic.twitter.com/sEC79RGM7V | Finally a solution for #Kiderograss pic.twitter.com/sEC79RGM7V |
| Obama-mania memorabilia | Obama-mania memorabilia |
| Kenyan artists have also been attempting to capture the mood ahead of the visit. Diaspora artist Msaani shared a painting with GuardianWitness. Called Mwenyeji, translating as ‘local resident’, it shows Obama “experiencing Kenya as a Kenyan as opposed to a visiting head of state. A son of the soil,” his wife Ivy Gathambo explained. | Kenyan artists have also been attempting to capture the mood ahead of the visit. Diaspora artist Msaani shared a painting with GuardianWitness. Called Mwenyeji, translating as ‘local resident’, it shows Obama “experiencing Kenya as a Kenyan as opposed to a visiting head of state. A son of the soil,” his wife Ivy Gathambo explained. |
| Other offerings included one from Dayan Masinde, who imagined a meal shared by the two heads of state. | Other offerings included one from Dayan Masinde, who imagined a meal shared by the two heads of state. |
| #obamainkenya @KoinangeJeff @DayanMasinde "OBAMA COMES TO KENYA: THE UHURU VISIT" artwork by Dayan Masinde pic.twitter.com/X8cBALIRF9 | #obamainkenya @KoinangeJeff @DayanMasinde "OBAMA COMES TO KENYA: THE UHURU VISIT" artwork by Dayan Masinde pic.twitter.com/X8cBALIRF9 |
| Elsewhere, artist Ombija told Kenya’s Capital TV that his wish was for the President – “his hero” – to buy his painting for $2,000 to help lift him, and his fellow youths, out of poverty. | Elsewhere, artist Ombija told Kenya’s Capital TV that his wish was for the President – “his hero” – to buy his painting for $2,000 to help lift him, and his fellow youths, out of poverty. |
| Urination threat | Urination threat |
| Finally, in what has to be one of the most bizarre threats the president is likely to receive, a group of students from Nairobi University penned an open letter to the president, demanding that he find time to visit them. | Finally, in what has to be one of the most bizarre threats the president is likely to receive, a group of students from Nairobi University penned an open letter to the president, demanding that he find time to visit them. |
| They warned that the female students would wee on the trees Obama planted in 2006 if he didn’t, before going on to threaten even more “catastrophic, calamitous, cataclysmic” action from the male students. | They warned that the female students would wee on the trees Obama planted in 2006 if he didn’t, before going on to threaten even more “catastrophic, calamitous, cataclysmic” action from the male students. |
| The students signed off the letter to say they were “ready and willing to listen and constructively dialogue with President Barack Obama at any time of day or night”. It is unclear whether they received their reply. | The students signed off the letter to say they were “ready and willing to listen and constructively dialogue with President Barack Obama at any time of day or night”. It is unclear whether they received their reply. |
| Someone tell CNN | Someone tell CNN |
| On Thursday the power of #KOT (Kenyans on Twitter) mobilised again to object to a CNN news report warning that Obama was “not just heading to his father’s homeland, but to a region that’s a hotbed of terror”. The report quoted a security analyst who said that while it was unlikely al-Shabaab would get near the president, an attack somewhere in the country during the visit couldn’t be ruled out. | On Thursday the power of #KOT (Kenyans on Twitter) mobilised again to object to a CNN news report warning that Obama was “not just heading to his father’s homeland, but to a region that’s a hotbed of terror”. The report quoted a security analyst who said that while it was unlikely al-Shabaab would get near the president, an attack somewhere in the country during the visit couldn’t be ruled out. |
| The hashtag #SomeoneTellCNN began trending on Twitter, as Kenyans fought back against what they called negative, one-dimensional reporting. Many shared images of Kenyan wildlife and holiday idyll to provide a contrast to the “hotbed of terror” label. | The hashtag #SomeoneTellCNN began trending on Twitter, as Kenyans fought back against what they called negative, one-dimensional reporting. Many shared images of Kenyan wildlife and holiday idyll to provide a contrast to the “hotbed of terror” label. |
| OMG!! A terrorist! Spotted in the #Hotbedofterror #SomeoneTellCNN pic.twitter.com/sMdVqGwR9r | OMG!! A terrorist! Spotted in the #Hotbedofterror #SomeoneTellCNN pic.twitter.com/sMdVqGwR9r |
| Kenyan journalist Tongola Mate tweeted a picture with the words: “#SomeoneTellCNN we do [our] own balanced stories”, and blogger Cyprian Nyakundi tweeted to remind CNN that “Kenyans won’t give up” and that he was awaiting an apology. | |
| #SomeoneTellCNN @radiomaisha We do own balanced stories @AOMWANA @Alex_Mwakideu @JalangoMwenyewe @antondiema pic.twitter.com/TLwc3nF7gc | #SomeoneTellCNN @radiomaisha We do own balanced stories @AOMWANA @Alex_Mwakideu @JalangoMwenyewe @antondiema pic.twitter.com/TLwc3nF7gc |