President Obama will travel to Kenya in July, his first visit as commander in chief to the birthplace of his father.
“President Obama will travel to Kenya in July, where he will hold bilateral meetings and participate in the [Global Entrepreneurship Summit],” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Monday. “His trip will build on the success of the August 2014 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit and continue our efforts to work with countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya, to accelerate economic growth, strengthen democratic institutions, and improve security.”
The White House contemplated a Kenya visit during Obama’s first term, but it never materialized. And a presidential trip to Africa in 2013 did not include Kenya because of concerns about human rights violations by the government there.
The White House said the Kenya visit would represent Obama’s fourth trip to sub-Saharan Africa as president.
Obama has often joked about the “birther” movement and conspiracy theories that he was born in Kenya, rather than Hawaii, as his birth certificate says.
“In Kenya, we drive on the other side of the street,” Obama said in an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” earlier this month, explaining why he doesn’t sit behind the wheel these days.
