[Mhiz Rebecca]

Former US president Barack Obama visited his
ancestral home in Kenya today to launch a state-of-the-
art youth centre run by his half-sister.
This is Obama's first trip to Kenya since 2015. At the
time he visited Kenya as a sitting president in 2015,
he was unable to visit his ancestral home as his jet was
too big to land in the western city of Kisumu, he
recalled. During his recent visit, Obama recounted fond
memories of his family home.
"It is a joy to be back with so many people who are
family to me, and so many people who claim to be
family. Everybody’s a cousin!" Obama joked and it was
met with laughter from the audience.
Barak Obama with his step-grandmother Sarah and
half-sister, Auma arrive to unveil a plaque on July 16,
2018
After a visit to the home of his step-grandmother Sarah
Obama in the village of Kogelo, where his father was
born and is buried, Obama recalled his first trip to
Kenya at the age of 27.
From Nairobi he took first a "very slow train" and then a
bus with "some chickens in my lap and some sweet
potatoes digging into my side". Then he had to pile
into a matatu — a minibus taxi — "even more crowded
than the bus", before a long walk to "Mama" Sarah’s
house.
He remembered having to catch a chicken for dinner,
which he was "a little squeamish" to kill himself,
visiting his father’s grave and bathing outdoors.
"And I looked up at the stars and… it gave me a sense
of satisfaction that no five-star hotel could ever
provide," he said.
Obama was speaking at the launch of the Sauti Kuu
(Swahili for "Strong Voices") centre set up by his half-
sister Auma Obama. He said that looking back on
those memories, he "couldn’t be prouder of what my
sister has built".
Auma said the state-of-the-art centre would give local
youth access to books, internet and sporting activities.
Upon Obama's arrival in Kenya on Sunday, he paid
courtesy calls on Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta and
main opposition leader Raila Odinga.