The ultimate American story?

President Obama recalls in his biography, Dreams from my father, that as he shared a twin-sized cot with his brother Bernard during his first visit to his father’s home in Kenya, Bernard whispered to him one night:

“Barry?”

“What?”

“What made you finally come home?”

“I’m not sure, Bernard. Something told me it was time.”

When Obama first visited his father’s home in Kenya, he arrived by train and had to walk half a mile to the bus stop, as he could not afford a taxi. The bus he was directed to was full, forcing his sister to sit on his lap, alongside a basket of yams and another person’s baby girl for the journey. To make himself more comfortable, he wiped a strand of spittle from another passenger’s hand. That evening, he shared a twin-sized cot with his brother; previously, he had spent his first night in Nairobi on a camping bed in his sister’s apartment. He would later embark on an African journey of biblical proportions as the first sitting US president to visit Kenya.

Obama would return as the leader of the world’s only superpower, the most powerful man in the world, and the most influential African in history. His first order of business in Kenya was to invite his brothers and close relatives for dinner at his residence. 

Unlike his first visit to Kenya, when he was met by only two people—his sister and his aunt—and his name was recognised by just one staff member at British Airways, this time, President Kenyatta and a number of senior government officials would greet him. These officials would include the Cabinet Secretaries for Foreign Affairs, Defence, and the Interior, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Chief of Staff in the President’s office, and the Governor of Nairobi.

Unlike his previous visit to Kenya, when he arrived alone, this time he was accompanied by his Chief of Staff, the US Secretary of Commerce, and Senators Chris Coons, Jeff Flake, and Ed Markey. Furthermore, he was joined by Representatives Karen Bass, George Kenneth Butterfield, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Barbara Lee, Gregory Meeks, Charlie Rangel, Terri Sewell, Emanuel Cleaver, John Conyers, Marcia Fudge, Al Green, Sheila Jackson Lee, Robin Kelly, Gwen Moore, Donald Payne, Cedric Richmond, and Bennie Thompson.

During his initial visit, his sister drove him in her baby-blue Volkswagen Beetle, valued at $1,000 or less. This time, he would chauffeur her in his $1.5 million custom-made, bomb-proof limousine known as ‘The Beast.’ It resembles a moving fortress, equipped with eight-inch-thick steel plates, five-inch-thick bulletproof glass, Kevlar-reinforced tyres, and a presidential blood bank in the boot. This vehicle was part of his convoy of 35 cars, which included up to 60 vehicles flown into Kenya for his trip.

The trip would involve the most extensive security operation ever undertaken in the history of the capital city of Nairobi. His security alone during the three days was expected to cost $5.7 million. The government would deploy 13,000 police officers to secure the city, with at least 800 US agents assisting them. US security satellites were dispatched to monitor major roads in the city, and an airborne radar system was activated to detect aerial threats in no-fly zones.

A highlight of Obama’s visit was the amusing African tradition of naming children after significant events to reflect the times they were born in. Lucy Akinyi chose to name her newborn ‘Air Force One’, stating, “I have decided to call my baby Air Force One Barack Obama so that we can all remember Obama’s visit to Kenya because it is a huge blessing.” Similarly, Lucy Atieno opted for the name ‘Air Force One’ for her son, explaining, “I have been told that it is the best airplane because it carries a very powerful leader of America who is also a Kenyan.” Annette Cheptot named her two-day-old baby ‘Junior Barack Kiprop’, saying, “Each time I will be celebrating my baby’s birthday, I will remember that it is the day the first sitting President of the US came to Kenya. It’s quite historic.”

Bill Burton, a former Obama aide, told the New York Times, “It’s obvious if you read his books, if you listen to what he’s said about his biography,” that “Kenya plays a very big role in how he thinks about the world and how he thinks about his relationship with other Americans.” Obama also told the media, “My personal ties to the people of Kenya, by definition, are going to be strong and will stay strong.” One can understand the emotions of the Luo women from his father’s tribe who sang for him when he visited as a Senator, ‘We praise God, but we also praise Obama.’

Is something urging you to embark on your African journey and American story? Please do not ignore it. Visit our Travel page, and let us set the wheels in motion.