Obama in Kenya for launch of sister’s sports center

Former President Obama is in Kenya to help launch a sports and training center established by his half-sister.

The Associated Press reported that the former president had arrived in Kenya, where his late father was born. The visit marks Obama’s first time visiting the country since leaving office last year.

Obama announced the trip on social media last week.

This week, I’m traveling to Africa for the first time since I left office – a continent of wonderful diversity, thriving culture, and remarkable stories. As I prepare for this trip, I wanted to share a list of books that I’d recommend for summer reading: https://t.co/W4Jc0N23iy

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) July 13, 2018

{mosads}

After he arrived on Sunday, Obama met with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, according to the Kenyan leader’s Twitter account. 

It was a great pleasure to welcome you back @BarackObama pic.twitter.com/EUHg8fpNPx

— Uhuru Kenyatta (@UKenyatta) July 15, 2018

Obama is also set to meet opposition leader Raila Odinga during his visit to the country, the AP reported. Odinga is now working with Kenyatta’s government following a tense political standoff that included an invalidated presidential election. 

Obama previously visited Kenya in 2006, while he was still a U.S. senator from Illinois and again in 2015 during his tenure in the White House, but never lived there. He was born in Hawaii and spent much of his childhood in Indonesia.