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USA

Obama travels to father's homeland of Kenya

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By Seamus Kearney
Obama travels to father's homeland of Kenya

Barack Obama has left for a visit to Kenya, his first trip to his father’s homeland as US President.

Obama previously travelled to the country as a US Senator, but this is the first visit since winning the White House in 2008.

The president left a military facility in Maryland on board Air Force One.

He is also due to visit Ethiopia, with business meetings very much the focus.

Media reports say Obama will meet family members in Nairobi, but he will not visit the village where his ancestors come from.

Kenya is said to be launching its biggest ever security operation for the visit.

The president’s trip comes just three months after 148 people were killed by Islamist militants at a university.

Also, in September 2013, 67 people were killed in an attack on Nairobi’s Westgate shopping mall.

Obama arrives in Kenya on Friday and will attend a business summit, as well as a meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta.

He is then due to arrive in Ethiopia on Sunday, becoming the first US president to travel there.

He will have talks with the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, and is also due to address a meeting of the African Union.