News
Feel free to send Obama SMS
President Obama attending a press conference. He has invited Kenyans to send comments and questions via short message service on number 5683 ahead of his speech in Ghana on Saturday. Photo/ REUTERS
Posted Tuesday, July 7 2009 at 22:30
In Summary
- Invitation to transmit text comes barely a week after President criticised Kenya
US President Barack Obama has invited Kenyans to send comments and questions via short message service (SMS) ahead of his speech in Ghana on Saturday.
Ghanaians, Nigerians and South Africans have also been invited to air their opinions on a broad range of issues.
Mr Obama will directly answer selected SMS questions through local radio broadcasts in Africa. Those who respond early will also receive SMS highlights of his Accra speech.
Criticised Kenya
The invitation comes less than a week after President Obama criticised Kenya’s leadership over the country’s political and economic direction.
According to the US embassy in Nairobi, to send a text message to President Obama from Kenya, one should text “English” or “French” to 5683.
Users will receive confirmation of enrolment within 10 minutes, and costs for a normal local SMS will be charged.
Mr Obama visits Ghana on Friday in what is being seen as a reward to Africa’s icon of democracy. The US President was scheduled to leave Russia last evening for Italy for the G8 meetings starting on Wednesday.
In Ghana, his first visit as president to the continent, Mr Obama’s plans outline his administration’s Africa policy.
Mr Obama skipped his father’s homeland, due to what he referred to as the government’s non-commitment to reforms.
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Submitted by KeenKenyanPosted July 09, 2009 10:53 PM
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Submitted by coldcase
Just what makes Kenyans think that their problems are to be solved by Obama? Typical mentality...create a problem then expect someone else to fix it. Obama has enough issues to fix in his own country!!
Posted July 09, 2009 05:44 AM -
Submitted by olegaita66
By ignoring Kenya a lame reason as slow reforms is ignorance on the part of Obama.Reforms in Kenya are but an internal affair.Barack Obama is only contributing to Kenya's poverty by branding Kenya a no-go zone,which affects Kenya as tourist destination.We should forget about Obama .
Posted July 09, 2009 01:27 AM -
Submitted by naliweliwalo
I hope Nation does not delete this; Obama, you skipped Kenya due to 'non commitment to reforms'! I am a die-hard supporter of Obama, but, is Egypt commited to reforms, especially with a dictator who has served for almost 20 years and is grooming his son to succeed him?
Posted July 09, 2009 01:03 AM -
Submitted by wawerugithiri
This Guy should stop treating us like Nursery school kids. This is just but cheap publicity. He dont need Text messages to get informed or to know the real situation in Africa. He has CIA at his disposal. Those with some dignity left should shun and reject this demeaning call.
Posted July 08, 2009 11:15 PM
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Lets look at facts:Obama isnt on trip to Ghana as Tourist, he is on business trip for US govt.interets, what US interests are there in Kenya? If there were DELTA would be flying there by now.No resources, no mining, no oil, no nothing, do u guys think that US has to release Airforce One only for going to visit Obama's next of kin only.Y should he risk his life in unsafe Nairobi? Cmon,Bure Kabisa!