Obama in Kenya: (Part 2) President Barack Obama's speech at Kasarani - full

 

Former US President Barack Obama on Sunday told Kenyans to make "tough choices" if they want to improve their lives for the better.While addressing a gathering in Nairobi, Mr Obama recalled the progress Kenya has made over the years.

“I urge Kenyan leaders to reject violence and incitement; respect the will of the people; urge security forces to act professionally and neutrally; and work together no matter the outcome,” he said in a statement. “I urge all Kenyans to work for an election — and aftermath — that is peaceful and credible, reinforcing confidence in your new Constitution and the future of your country. Any disputes around the election should be resolved peacefully, through Kenya’s institutions and the rule of law.”

Few voices from outside Kenya could resonate more powerfully than that of Mr. Obama, whose father, Barack Obama Sr., was a Kenyan student who met and married Stanley Ann Dunham in Hawaii but left about a year after their son was born.

As president, Mr. Obama in 2015 made a high-profile visit to Kenya, where he was celebrated as the country’s most famous son even as he urged the country to fortify its fragile democracy, tackle corruption, overcome ethnic divisions and protect human rights.