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    "id": 572257,
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    "content": "he has his roots. I am sure that there will another time and place for such a visit to be organized. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, President Obama is coming to Kenya at a time when we have so many challenges which have translated into many difficulties and problems that we are having in the country as a whole. We have the problem from terrorism which has hit us many times in various parts of the country. We have problems in tourism in that in the last two years we have had falling numbers in terms of tourists coming to Kenya. Although the Government and the country as a whole is engaged in major flagship projects, most of which were conceived at the time of the Grand Coalition Government, for the first time, more than ever before, we are seeing a bigger number of investors coming from the USA with the presidential entourage, while some of them are already here in the country. The benefits for the country are enormous, not only in the short-term, but in the long-term. We will live to see that this visit is important and has got a major significance to the country. All of us should be proud of the fact that President Obama has decided to come to Africa at this particular point in time. There was time when I was worried, although I know that previous President of the USA who have come to Africa have not come to Kenya. Some former Presidents have even come to our neighbourhood, including Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. They have been to South Africa which is a popular destination for sitting Presidents of the USA and also Botswana. In West Africa, Ghana and Senegal have been usual destinations for sitting Presidents of the USA. It is a big statement that President has chosen to visit Kenya. However, speaking for the people of Siaya County, we are a little bit disappointed, justifiably, that he will not go to Siaya where he has roots. I am sure that he is very proud of those roots, having come to Kenya on a pilgrimage to find out exactly where his ancestors were born and where his father was buried. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I want to say three things so that I give other Members time to speak on this important Motion. One, President Obama is a living demonstration that one can come from a very humble background with many challenges and make it to the top even in the most powerful country. In the USA, he was not only an African American, but came from a minority in the USA. This is a very big and important statement. In Kenya, we have people amongst us, like the Chair who have come from humble backgrounds and now sit on a very high pedestal. Sometimes it is very difficult not to think that he is on a high pedestal when he is flying in the air. This demonstrates that people both in Kenya and the USA, can come from very humble backgrounds and make it to the top. However, the difference ends there. In the USA, President Obama was elected on the basis of what he stood for, both as an American and a member of the Democratic Party. In Kenya, I think that the time has come for our politics to begin to ensure that when we have a public discourse, the issues become the most important determinant of making choices in our politics. This will make Kenya a better country. The USA has a made a choice. In the last seven years, when President Obama was first elected, the USA The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}