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President Obama to visit his father’s home country for the first time as president

Obama joked that he liked America so much he left Kenya

Payton Guion
Monday 30 March 2015 21:08 BST
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US President Barack Obama for the first time during his presidency will be going to his father’s home country of Kenya, making a trip this summer for an entrepreneurship summit, according to the White House.

While the president has been to sub-Saharan Africa on three occasions during his time as US head of state, this will be his first time visiting Kenya. Mr Obama’s connection to the African country has caused some political opponents to question his US citizenship.

The president’s father, Barack Obama Sr, was born and raised in Kenya. The elder Obama lived in the US for several years before he returned to Kenya and died there in a car accident in 1982, CNN reported.

Acknowledging the barbs about his background, Mr Obama said on Monday: “If I did not love America, I wouldn't have moved here from Kenya”. He was born in Hawaii.

The president will be in Kenya in July for meetings between the two countries and to attend the 2015 Global Entrepreneurship Summit.

”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,“ Press Secretary Josh Earnest said in a statement.

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