US leader to meet Opposition chiefs at Kasarani on Sunday
What you need to know:
- Among those invited are Members of Parliament, learning institutions, government officials and members of the diplomatic corps. Admission tickets were issued to invitees on Friday.
- The US President is scheduled to leave the country later this afternoon for Ethiopia where he will hold bilateral meetings with the Government of Ethiopia and the leadership of the African Union (AU).
US President Barack Obama will this morning meet key opposition leaders before proceeding to the Safaricom Indoor Arena at the Moi International Sports Centre where he will deliver an official address to Kenyans.
The visiting President is scheduled to hold 45-minute talks with ODM leader Raila Odinga, Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula of Ford Kenya, Kalonzo Musyoka of the Wiper party and Narc Kenya’s Martha Karua.
The talks will centre on the areas of governance, security and democracy and the four leaders are said to have already met to plan and agree on how to engage with Mr Obama.
The visiting President will then proceed to Kenyatta University where he will meet select civil society representatives at the Yali Regional Leadership Centre before leaving for Ethiopia.
An estimated 3,000 individuals have been invited to attend the event at Kasarani this morning.
Attendance is restricted to confirmed invitations cleared and handed tickets by the Protocol section of the US Embassy in Nairobi.
Among those invited are Members of Parliament, learning institutions, government officials and members of the diplomatic corps. Admission tickets were issued to invitees on Friday.
The US President is scheduled to leave the country later this afternoon for Ethiopia where he will hold bilateral meetings with the Government of Ethiopia and the leadership of the African Union (AU).
Like Kenya, this will also be the first visit of a sitting US President to Ethiopia and to the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa.
The talks with the AU are significant in that they are seen to be building up on the successes of the U-Africa Leaders’ Summit held in August last year and help strengthen ties between America and Africa as well as increase investment opportunities.
According to the White Office Press Secretary, the visit is important to America as it underscores its efforts to work with the countries and citizens of Sub-Saharan Africa to accelerate economic growth, strengthen democratic institutions and improve security.
At this afternoon’s Kasarani event, guests have been advised to bring as few personal items as possible. Bags, sharp objects, umbrellas and liquids will not be allowed into the venue and visitors will have to undergo security checks.
