from: Judy Miriga
date: Thu, Jun 6, 2013 at 4:21 PM
subject: Open Letter to President Barack Obama on the President’s Travel to Africa

Dear President Barack Obama,

Since it was announced that your plan to travel to Africa was going to leave Kenya out of your itinerary, I have thought very deeply about the impact, horror, disappointments and pain many ordinary poor Kenyans will feel. Majority of Kenyans are helpless and hurting about the fact that you will fly-over past Kenya to Tanzania without stopping-by on the soil of your father’s land. To see you stop-over and say jambo before you proceed to TZ will give many Kenyans life and this mean the whole world to them. To many, it is more valuable than silver and gold. You may not know it, but the exuberant joy and happiness you will bring to their lives is of no comparison……additional your presence will have a jubilant impact that will leave fond memories lasting for months.

Mr. President, to see such excessive corruption, mis-conduct, lack-of-focus and carelessness coming from people of your father’s land, is not pleasant. I take exception and I feel your pain and frustrations……..but what you may not know is how people of Kenya love and care for your wellbeing and that, you mean the world to these ordinary old and the young of Kenya. They celebrate you in their own ways and style even when you are not there ……. You became a role-model and mentor to many…… even in their play, Otonglo narrator recently did a play for President Uhuru at State House Mombasa and could not end the play without finishing touches emulating a stint of “the Language spoken by Obama Wuod Alego in the White House” in his play……while others have style up remembering you in their Prayers daily – as all that matter to them is that you and the First Lady and the children are well and in good health and that you continue to be Blessed, protected, guided and strengthened by the Almighty as you dedicate to public services and where the world look up to you…….it is the reason why, as Diaspora Spokesperson for social activism, as a wife, mother and grandmother with family and friends whom I interact with from grassroots in Kenya, I am compelled to intervene after seeing the real pain of them missing you but only seeing you up in the air in your Air-force-One fly above them to Tanzania.

Kindly, stop-over with First Lady Michele along with your entourage and say jambo to the people of Kenya……….. For the sake of happiness, peace and unity, and on behalf of the voiceless; today, I humbly request that you forgive the two leaders “President Uhuru and Ruto” for any wrong they may have done and adjust your trip to add Kenya en-route.

Mr President, I do not doubt your disappointment from some unbecoming behaviors of some Kenyans that can truely be upsetting and make someone very angry’ but please, I plead that you look back in forgiveness. I have watched how many a times your opponents get under your skin trying to get you irritated and upset; but countless of times you forgave them. Kindly forgive Kenyan leaders hoping that they have learned their lessons and will begin to do things differently as they already started showing in some of reports we begin to read from Kenya.

It is my Prayer that The First Lady Michele will also take initiative to persuade you in your quiet moment of rest and that; your Intelligence as well as Susan Rice shall endeavor to figure-out and fix gadgets in their critical advice of the same……..

By copy of this email, I encourage President Uhuru with his VP Ruto to make the necessary protocol for cordial communication and follow-up with you in this matter.

All is good that ends well……….

Sincerely,

Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com

C.C.

P.A. Susan Rice
President Uhuru
Vice President Ruto

Statement by the Press Secretary on the President’s Travel to Africa

President Obama and the First Lady look forward to traveling to Senegal, South Africa, and Tanzania from June 26 – July 3. The President will reinforce the importance that the United States places on our deep and growing ties with countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including through expanding economic growth, investment, and trade; strengthening democratic institutions; and investing in the next generation of African leaders.

The President will meet with a wide array of leaders from government, business, and civil society, including youth, to discuss our strategic partnerships on bilateral and global issues. The trip will underscore the President’s commitment to broadening and deepening cooperation between the United States and the people of sub-Saharan Africa to advance regional and global peace and prosperity.

from: Maurice Oduor
date: Fri, Jun 7, 2013 at 1:01 AM
subject: Open Letter to President Barack Obama on the President’s Travel to Africa

Judy,

Obama is the President of the United States and whatever he chooses to do is what he considers or has been advised is in the interests of the US. There is a good reason why he’s skipping Kenya.

Kenya is the native land of his father and for him to leave Kenya out of his itinerary means that there is a serious reason. Uhuru and Ruto are facing some very serious charges at the ICC and I don’t think an American President would want to be seen as being chummy with such leaders. Take a simple example: Do you think even a US Senator or Congressman/woman would want to be seen with a simple street drug-dealer? Or a prostitute? Or a petty thief? Then why would they want to be seen with someone charged with crimes against humanity?

I’m very sure Obama is really at pains for not being able to visit Kenya as long as those charges against Uhuru and Ruto are still outstanding. It’s embarrassing for Kenya for Obama whose father is a native of Kenya not to come to Kenya but will be in next-door Tanzania. This sends wrong signals to investors and tourists who would otherwise visit Kenya.

But take heart Judy; I believe Obama will visit Kenya before the end of his term. The way the victims and witnesses of PEV are dying off or recanting their stories, it won’t be long before the ICC has no case left and is forced to drop the charges. Do you recall that Biwott was found not guilty of any involvement in the Ouko murder? Similarly, Uhuru and Ruto may be found not guilty of any involvement in the PEV.

On a light note, most Kikuyus and Kalenjins believe that Raila is the one who took Uhuru and Ruto to the Hague so maybe it might take just Raila’s word for the ICC to drop the charges. Has anyone ever asked Raila to approach the ICC to ask them that he’s changed his mind about bringing them there?

Courage