President Barack Obama is well-loved in Kenya.
Natives laud his Kenyan heritage, call him “brother” and “cousin,” and claim to know his grandmother, who still lives in the southwest region. Nairobi streets are dotted with passport photo advertisements, emblazoned with Obama’s face.
But despite three trips to sub-Saharan Africa in more than six years of his presidency, Obama has still never visited the land of his father’s birth -- a disappointing truth for Obama fans.
“If in three years and seven months I am not in Kenya, then you can fault me for not following through on my promise,” Obama said at a town hall in South Africa during his 2013 tour.
This morning, the White House made an announcement that Obama will make good on this promise, finally visiting the nation to attend the 2015 Global Entrepreneurship Summit this July.
The trip will “continue our efforts to work with countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya, to accelerate economic growth, strengthen democratic institutions, and improve security,” according to the White House statement.
This will be President Obama’s fourth trip to sub-Saharan Africa during his presidency.