(26 Jul 2015) AT A CROWDED SPORTS ARENA, HE WAS INTRODUCED BY THE HALF-SISTER HE FIRST MET THREE DECADES AGO.
SOUNDBITE: Auma Obama, President Obama's Half Sister:
"He's one of us. But we're happy to share him with the world right?"
BUT PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S MESSAGE ON HIS KENYAN HOMECOMING WAS THAT YOUNG KENYANS DON'T HAVE TO DO WHAT HIS FATHER DID -- LEAVE TO FIND A BETTER FUTURE.
SOUNDBITE: President Barack Obama:
"Because of Kenya's progress, because of your potential, you can build your future right here right now."
ALL IT TAKES, HE SAYS, IS EMBRACING DEMOCRACY -- AND BATTLING CORRUPTION, TRIBALISM AND A CULTURE THAT TOO OFTEN SIDELINES AND ABUSES WOMEN.
SOUNDBITE: President Barack Obama:
"Those are traditions -- treating women and girls as second-class citizens. Those are bad traditions. They need to change. (cheers)"
IT WAS A NOISY HIGHLIGHT TO A VISIT THAT STARTED QUIETLY AT NAIROBI'S AIRPORT ...
BUT BUILT TO A COLORFUL SWIRL OF WELCOME FOR AMERICA'S FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PRESIDENT, ALBEIT ONE WHO TOOK SIX-PLUS YEARS TO COME.
AND THOUGH HE DIDN'T GO TO THE VILLAGE WHERE HIS FATHER'S BURIED, HIS EXTENDED FAMILY CAME TO HIM FOR DINNER. EMPHASIS ON EXTENDED.
SOUNDBITE: President Barack Obama:
"Cousins and uncles and aunties that show up that you didn't know existed."
MEANTIME, OBAMA'S TALKS WITH PRESIDENT UHURU KENYATTA THAT SPANNED TRADE AND INVESTMENT ..
BUT ALSO THE FIGHT AGAINST AL-SHABAB MILITANTS WHOSE ATTACKS, LIKE THIS ONE ON A SHOPPING MALL, HAVE KILLED HUNDREDS.
SOUNDBITE: President Barack Obama:
"When they're willing to target soft targets, and civilians, and are prepared to die, they can still do a lot of damage."
BUT ON GAY RIGHTS, A TOUCHY SUBJECT HERE, THE TWO LEADERS PARTED WAYS.
SOUNDBITE: Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Kenya:
"It is very difficult for us to be able to impose on people that which they themselves do not accept."
BUT MOSTLY, KENYATTA, LIKE OTHERS HERE, TREATED OBAMA LIKE A HERO COME HOME.
SOUNDBITE: Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Kenya:
"You returned, riding on the wings of history."
SOUNDBITE: President Barack Obama:
"I suspect that some of my critics back home are suggesting that I'm back here to look for my birth certificate."
STANDUP:
THREE DECADES AFTER HE FIRST CAME TO KENYA IN SEARCH OF HIS ROOTS, THE PRESIDENT HAS HAD AN EMOTIONAL RETURN. STILL, HE'S VOICING FRUSTRATION AT NOT GETTING OUTSIDE THE "BUBBLE." BUT HE'S VOWING TO RETURN AS AN EX-PRESIDENT -- WITHOUT THE SUIT.
MARK SMITH, AP, NAIROBI, KENYA
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