All set for Obama’s visit but residents, leaders take issue with ‘strict’ plans

It’s all systems go in Kogelo, Siaya County, as it prepares to welcome its most famous son, former US President Barack Obama.

Mr Obama last visited Kogelo as Illinois senator in 2006 and addressed the public at Senator Obama Primary School before visiting meeting his family. The village is now a beehive of activity 12 years later.

On Saturday, Nyanza Regional Commissioner Moffat Kangi said security authorities in the region were coordinating with other forces to ensure safety of the high-powered delegation that will accompany Mr Obama to Kogelo.

Under the 2012 Former Presidents Protection Act all former US heads of state and their spouses get lifetime protection from the Secret Service, which is expected to work with local security authorities during the visit.

“Tomorrow (Sunday) we shall have a briefing on the security plans ahead of the Monday visit. So far, all is well,” said Mr Kangi.

GIANT SCREENS

Today, giant screens are expected to be mounted at the Jomo Kenyatta grounds and Kogelo village for those who will not access the venue for the launch of Sauti Kuu Sports, Resource and Vocational Training Centre.

Huge billboards have already been mounted on Kisumu-Busia and Kisumu-Bondo highways.

In Kogelo, a huge tent has been put up at the Sauti Kuu Resource Centre, where the invited guests will converge for the big occasion. A modern basketball facility has already been completed and by yesterday, early guests were having a taste of it.

A meeting of community members, professionals, church leaders and elders on Friday came up with a memorandum they said they would wish presented to Mr Obama.

The meeting was attended by among others Siaya Church Leaders Forum Chairman Archbishop James Onyango, Nyanza Council of Church Leaders Forum Chairman Bishop Washington Ogonyo-Ngede, Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo, Mr Nicholas Rajula and Luo Council of Elders Chairman Willis Otondi.

UNIVERSITY

“The community has already provided 24 acres of land for the construction of the university including an additional 100 acres for the establishment of a research centre by the Centre for Disease Control,” said Mr Rajula.

He said Mama Sarah Obama’s Safeguard Orphans and Widows Organisation has also been incorporated in the programme. In their memorandum, said Mr Rajula, they have requested the change of the names of Senator Barack Obama secondary and primary schools to President Barack Obama.

Mr Otondi said “it is our desire to be allowed to crown Mr Obama as a community elder”.

Despite the booming hospitality business in Kogelo and its environs, some small-scale traders and boda boda riders as well as villagers said they were not happy with the arrangements.

“We shall not be allowed to operate near the venue, so we doubt whether we will even get customers because invited guests are dignitaries who will use planes and vehicles,” said Mr Martin Ochieng’, a boda boda rider.

Mama Alice Arujo, a trader, faulted security officers for ordering them to move from the venue for security reasons. “The visit is a blessing for some people and a curse for some of us and those who will not access the venue of the meeting to see our son Obama,” she said.

IMPRESS

Ms Rajula, however, said they were trying to impress upon the organisers to see whether Mr Obama will have time to “even say hi to the public at the centre as the case in 2006”.

“We want to welcome him the African way. This can only be done when there is a crowd,” she said.

Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo said: “It is our leader Raila Odinga’s desire to have Mr Obama say hi to our people. We hope that despite the strict programme, this will happen for the sake of the people who have been yearning to see him.”

South East Alego MCA Joseph Mboha said it was wrong for Mr Obama to visit Kogelo and not to address the residents.

“For what reason is he coming home? To meet dignitaries he is travelling with at the expense of his own people? If he cannot meet his brothers and sisters while they are also being asked to part with a membership fee for the project that is supposed to help them, then we feel it is being unfair to them,” Mr Mboha said.

VOCATIONAL CENTRE

Sunday Nation learnt that there is a Sh200 annual membership fee for adults and Sh50 for children paid to Sauti Kuu to use its facilities.

Mr Obama will tomorrow preside over the official opening of the sport facility, which is the first of its kind in the region.

World-class athletes are set to attend its launch.

Sauti Kuu founder Dr Auma Obama earlier said the centre includes an international standard size football pitch sponsored by the German Ministry for Development Cooperation, a basketball court sponsored by the Giants of Africa Foundation, and volleyball and netball courts.

Other facilities include a library, ICT laboratory and vocational centre “sponsored by multiple Sauti Kuu supporters, who will be in attendance”.