Senators: US leader’s rise a lesson to us

President Barack Obama speaks, as a tear streams down his face, at his final campaign stop in Des Moines, Iowa, on November 5, 2012, on the evening before the presidential election. FILE PHOTO | AFP

What you need to know:

  • Mr James Orengo (Siaya, ODM), who moved a motion on President Obama’s visit, said Kenya should learn from his rise to presidency given that he hailed from a humble background.
  • Mr Wetang’ula said speaking about insecurity and other shortcomings should not be misconstrued to mean exposing the country’s failures to foreigners.
  • Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki (Tharaka-Nithi, TNA) said Mr Obama is coming to Kenya because he believes the country has achieved a lot in terms of democratic gains and development.

Senators have asked Kenyans to put aside their ethnic differences as they welcome President Obama to the country.

Mr James Orengo (Siaya, ODM), who moved a motion on President Obama’s visit, said Kenya should learn from his rise to the presidency given that he hailed from a humble background.

He noted that Mr Obama was elected for what he stands for as opposed to his ethnicity.

Mr Orengo challenged Kenyan voters to move away from electing leaders based on tribal or party affiliations. “In Kenya, to get elected on issues is very difficult. All of us depend on ethnic cocoons and the political big man to succeed,” he said.

Senate Minority Leader Moses Wetang’ula (Bungoma, Ford-K) faulted President Kenyatta, saying he was promoting skewed public appointments that have left out other communities.

He said Mr Obama set history when he became the first black man to be elected president of a superpower.

Mr Wetang’ula said speaking about insecurity and other shortcomings should not be misconstrued to mean that the leaders were exposing the country’s failures to foreigners.

Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki (Tharaka-Nithi, TNA) said Mr Obama is coming to Kenya because he believes the country has achieved a lot in terms of democratic gains and development.

He said some of the scandals being cited by leaders portraying the State in bad light occurred when some of them were in government.