No fewer than 18 students of the University of Nairobi (UoN) have threatened to commit suicide if President Barak Obama fails to visit their institution during his official visit to Kenya later this month. 31 students of the institution have also threatened to urinate on the tree President Obama planted in UoN in 2006 should he not visit UoN.
The Students’ Union Leader, Mr. Babu Owino wrote a letter to the US Embassy requesting it to include University of Nairobi (UoN) in President Obama’s schedule two day visit to Kenya, saying: “…so far, at least 18 UoN students have threatened to commit suicide if President Barack Obama fails to visit UoN; also 31 female students have threatened to urinate on the tree President Obama planted in UoN in 2006 should he not visit UoN.”
Babu added that both students and staff will be ready anytime -day or night- to have the US President address them at Taifa Hall.
“All students and staff will be eagerly awaiting his eminent visit and address at the great Taifa Hall. We are ready and willing to listen and constructively dialogue with President Barack Obama at any time of the day or night.”
The White House announced earlier that President Obama will travel to Kenya this July for the Global Entrepreneurship Summit.
The press secretary, Josh Earnest said in a statement: “The Government of Kenya has agreed to co-host the 2015 Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) this July. Organized annually since 2009, the GES has emerged as a global platform connecting emerging entrepreneurs with leaders from business, international organizations, and governments looking to support them. This will be the first time the GES will take place in sub-Saharan Africa.”
“President Obama will travel to Kenya in July, where he will hold bilateral meetings and participate in the GES. 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. This will be President Obama’s fourth trip to sub-Saharan Africa during his presidency.”
It will be the president’s first visit to the country since taking office. Obama has made two separate trips to the continent as president, traveling to Ghana in 2009 and Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania in 2013.
The decision not to visit Kenya in 2013 came as Uhuru Kenyatta, the country’s newly elected leader, was expected to stand trial at the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity related to post-election violence in 2007 and 2008.
“We also as a country have a commitment to accountability and justice as a baseline principle. And given the fact that Kenya is in the aftermath of their election and the new government has come into place and is going to be reviewing these issues with the ICC and the international community, it just wasn’t the best time for the president to travel to Kenya at this point.” [myad]
