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Obama in Kenya: Country at crossroads, says president | Obama in Kenya: Country at crossroads, says president |
(about 2 hours later) | |
US President Barack Obama has praised Kenya's economic and political advances, but also warned of challenges ahead. | US President Barack Obama has praised Kenya's economic and political advances, but also warned of challenges ahead. |
In a speech in Nairobi, he said his father's homeland had "come so far in just my lifetime". | In a speech in Nairobi, he said his father's homeland had "come so far in just my lifetime". |
But he also said corruption, terrorism and tribal or ethnic division were threats to its future. | But he also said corruption, terrorism and tribal or ethnic division were threats to its future. |
"Kenya is at a crossroads, a moment filled with peril but enormous promise," he said. | "Kenya is at a crossroads, a moment filled with peril but enormous promise," he said. |
Young Kenyans nowadays did not have to serve a colonial master or leave the country - like his grandfather and father had had to, Mr Obama said. | Young Kenyans nowadays did not have to serve a colonial master or leave the country - like his grandfather and father had had to, Mr Obama said. |
"Because of Kenya's progress, because of your potential, you can build your future right here, right now," he said to applause from a huge audience at a sports stadium in the capital, Nairobi. | "Because of Kenya's progress, because of your potential, you can build your future right here, right now," he said to applause from a huge audience at a sports stadium in the capital, Nairobi. |
But he warned that despite the country's political stability, tribal and ethnic divisions could be stirred up. | But he warned that despite the country's political stability, tribal and ethnic divisions could be stirred up. |
"A politics that's based on only tribe and ethnicity is doomed to tear a country apart. It is a failure - a failure of imagination," he said. | "A politics that's based on only tribe and ethnicity is doomed to tear a country apart. It is a failure - a failure of imagination," he said. |
However, he praised the country for emerging from the ethnic violence that erupted after the disputed 2007 election. | However, he praised the country for emerging from the ethnic violence that erupted after the disputed 2007 election. |
President Obama also warned that the "cancer" of corruption was costing the country 250,000 jobs. | President Obama also warned that the "cancer" of corruption was costing the country 250,000 jobs. |
And he condemned the repression of women - including female genital mutilation and forced marriage, which he said did not belong in the 21st Century - adding that the best use of development aid was to spend it on girls' education. | And he condemned the repression of women - including female genital mutilation and forced marriage, which he said did not belong in the 21st Century - adding that the best use of development aid was to spend it on girls' education. |
He also urged Kenya to "embrace diversity", a clear reference to gay rights. | He also urged Kenya to "embrace diversity", a clear reference to gay rights. |
'Historic visit' | 'Historic visit' |
Security has been tight for Mr Obama's two-day visit to Kenya. | Security has been tight for Mr Obama's two-day visit to Kenya. |
The trip, which began on Friday, is his first visit as president to the land where his father was born. | The trip, which began on Friday, is his first visit as president to the land where his father was born. |
Mr Obama has now flown to Ethiopia, the first US president to visit the country. He will also become the first US leader to address the 54-member African Union (AU) on Tuesday. | |
AU Commission chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma described the trip to Ethiopia as a "historic visit" that would "broaden and deepen the relationship between the AU and the US". | AU Commission chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma described the trip to Ethiopia as a "historic visit" that would "broaden and deepen the relationship between the AU and the US". |
On Saturday, Mr Obama praised Africa's economic and business potential in a speech at a business summit. | On Saturday, Mr Obama praised Africa's economic and business potential in a speech at a business summit. |
He also visited a memorial for those killed in the 1998 US embassy bombing in Nairobi. | He also visited a memorial for those killed in the 1998 US embassy bombing in Nairobi. |
After holding bilateral talks, President Obama and President Kenyatta said they were "united against terrorism". | After holding bilateral talks, President Obama and President Kenyatta said they were "united against terrorism". |
But they differed sharply in their positions on gay rights. While Mr Obama spoke strongly against discrimination, Mr Kenyatta said Kenya did not share the same values. | But they differed sharply in their positions on gay rights. While Mr Obama spoke strongly against discrimination, Mr Kenyatta said Kenya did not share the same values. |