Obama to visit Kenya this year as the nation mourns victims of terrorist attack

7th April 2015 America’s number one man Barack Obama will visit Kenya later this year. This makes it the first time he will visit since becoming the president of the United States six years ago. Obama has visited Africa four times since his presidential appointment.

According to the White House, Obama will visit in July, and attend a Global Entrepreneurship Summit which will hold in sub-Saharan Africa for the first time. He will also meet with the country’s president Uhuru Kenyatta to discuss issues, some relating to restrictions on human rights and fundamental freedoms. And on a personal note, he is expected to visit some of his relatives who live in Kenya.

According to a white house official “Hosting the GES is an opportunity for Kenya to showcase its economic progress. Kenya maintains enormous potential for economic growth, thanks to the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of the Kenyan people.”

Still on Kenya, as the country begins the hard task of recovering from the brutal terrorist attack in Garissa that saw 147 students killed, the country’s religious leaders have called for peace and calm in thr country. Both Muslim and Christian leaders made the plea over the Easter weekend.

The Rev. Peter Karanja, general secretary of the National Council of Churches of Kenya, sked the country to take a much closer look at the nation’s security systems and is quoted as saying “It is our conviction that the folly of our homeland security is systemic and cannot be given cosmetic solutions,”. Muslim leaders here condemned the attack and disowned terrorists, terming them as criminals using religion to commit crimes.

Abdullahi Salat, chairman of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims is quoted as saying “The Muslim community in Garissa County strongly condemns barbaric acts committed against innocent university students. Our heartfelt condolences go to the victims’ families.”

142 students, three security officers and two university security personnel were killed in the attack, with about 104 people injured.

Kenya’s Interior Minister Joseph Nkaissery announced that Kenyan police have arrested five suspects in connection with Thursday’s attack and police have declared a dusk to dawn curfew for the next few days. The college has been closed indefinitely.

Our profound condolences go out to all affected by this horrific incident.