- Title: AFRICA-OBAMA/KENYA SECURITY Nairobi in lockdown for Obama arrival
- Date: 24th July 2015
- Summary: NAIROBI, KENYA (JULY 24, 2015) (REUTERS) POLICE PATROL DRIVING ON EMPTY STREET VARIOUS OF ROAD BLOCKS VARIOUS OF POLICE OFFICERS ON THE STREET POLICE OFFICER HOLDING A COMMUNICATION RADIO POLICE SPOKESPERSON TALKING TO A JOURNALIST ON A ROUNDABOUT WITH US AND KENYA FLAGS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING IN THE STREET (SOUNDBITE) (English) POLICE SPOKESPERSON, ZIPPORAH GATIRIA MBO
- Embargoed: 8th August 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Kenya
- Country: Kenya
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVACV69VKNK0WQ33SAEQ3NO7M7TZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Kenya's capital Nairobi was in lockdown on Friday (July 24) as Kenyan police prepared the city for the arrival of U.S. president Barack Obama.
Police cars blocked the streets to ensure a free flow for Obama's convoy.
"We have quite number of officer who are going to work here throughout the night and right now they are here and the road is going to be closed at six in other to give the presidents a free flow of traffic," said Zipporah Gatiria Mboroki, police spokesperson.
President Barack Obama departed for Kenya on Thursday (July 23), his first trip to his father's homeland as U.S. president, kicking off a swing through Africa that will also include a stop in Ethiopia.
Many Kenyans were expected to greet Obama in Nairobi, according to traffic controller supervisor, Agnes Konga.
"Kenyans like welcoming visitors, we are very good at that is why you see that they have come out in their large numbers and I believe that they are yet to come in bigger numbers than they are right now. As time go by they will be able to come in a bigger crowd to welcome His Excellency," Konga said.
Obama, the first black U.S. president, is the son of a black father from Kenya and a white mother from Kansas. He travelled to Kenya as a U.S. senator but has not gone since winning the White House.
Obama is expected to meet with family members while in Nairobi, but he will not be travelling to the village most closely associated with his family name.
The trip will focus otherwise on security and economic initiatives as the president shores up his legacy on the African continent.
Obama will also do some lobbying of lawmakers who are coming along for the visit. The president is seeking support from Congress for a deal to curb Iran's nuclear program. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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