KENYA: Kogelo Upset By Obama Snub, Traders Mourn Chance To Cash In

Residents of Nyang'oma Kogelo are upset that US President Barack Obama will not visit Kogelo while in Kenya next week.

One cannot choose his place of birth, resident Peter Owino noted, saying Obama should not have to be persuaded to visit his homeland.

“This means Obama does not care about his ancestral home anymore as much as he boasts that he hails from Kenya,” Owino said.

He said Obama should compensate all the entrepreneurs who expected to to make more money during his visit.

Businessmen who spoke to the Star regretted that they will not cash in on the visit as expected.

Artisans with carvings of Obama and his grandmother, Sarah, said the US President's visit would have promoted their trade.

Journalists and residents sought to speak to Sarah but security officers denied them access to her home.

Kogelo Resort hotels owner Nicholas Rajula said he had spent a lot of money on renovations in anticipation of dignitaries accompanying Obama.

“I am foreseeing a big loss as I will only receive a few visitors, unlike if the president would have visited the area,” he said.

Samuel Okoth, one of many selling t-shirts with messages about the impending visit, said he will no longer make the good sales he did before the announcement.

“I have been generating income by selling almost 10 t-shirts a day with the message that Obama is coming to Kogelo but now I will be forced to rewrite my message or incur loses,” he said.

Boda boda riders William Oguna, Onyango Ja Kisumo and George Ochome said their hearts were broken.

Ja Kisumo said he had hoped for a business boom surpassing what was experienced when Obama visited as Illinois senator in 2006.

The Siaya government had allocated Sh52 million to preparations for a visit by the US President.

County chief officer incharge of tourism Joseph Ogutu said everything they had scheduled ahead of the visit will carry on.

“Obama sevens tournament, Kanyaboli marathon and the investment conference will take place as scheduled since they were prepared for the public,” he said.

Deputy governor Ouma Onyango could not be reached for comment.

Obama and President Uhuru Kenyatta will co-host the 6th Global Entrepreneurship Summit taking place on July 24 to 26 at UN Gigiri.

US Ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec said Obama will not visit Kogelo as his limited time in the country makes it difficult.

Godec said consultations are in progress to create an itinerary for the President, following the receipt of many invitations from different parts of the country.
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