Africa is on the move, says President Obama in Kenya

Africa is on the move, says President Obama in Kenya
President Barack Obama co-hosted the Global Entrepreneurship Summit
More than US$1 billion (Sh100 billion) to support entrepreneurship worldwide

By David Ohito
The Standard (Kenya)

President Barack Obama and President Uhuru Kenyatta opened the 6th annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), co-hosted by the United States and the Government of Kenya in Gigiri and announced a Sh100billion to promote entrepreneurship in Africa.

In less than 12 hours after arriving in Kenya, President Obama, accompanied by dozens of presidential entrepreneurship ambassadors, deleivered goodies which will go a long way in improving Kenya and other African countries. Speaking Saturday in Nairobi, President Obama announced over $1 billion (Sh100billion) in new commitments from banks, foundations, philanthropists, and the US Government, with half of that money going to support youth and women entrepreneurs.

Women entrepreneurship centres Besides the goodies announced, Kenya will host one of the new women entrepreneurship centres in Africa alongside Mali and Zambia. The two presidents demystified officialdom and mingled with entrepreneurs in a rousing session in which they even retreated to a panel with a Kenyan entrepreneur Judith Owiga and reiterated importance of entrepreneurship as a driver for economic growth, social inclusion, and secure communities.

GES 2015, held in Nairobi, Kenya, is the first summit held in sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting the entrepreneurial dynamism of the continent.

The summit has attracted about 1,000 outstanding entrepreneurs and investors from across the world for dynamic, outcome-oriented sessions; mentoring; and opportunities to showcase their work.

President Obama said he was accompanied by presidential entrepreneurship ambassadors who were keen on supporting innovative ideas and challenged business people to mingle with them.
__
Video: President Obama dances in Kenya

__
Video: Africa is on the move, says President Obama in Kenya

___
Video: US President Barack Obama on terrorism in Africa

___
Video: Economic impact of US President Obama’s visit to Kenya

___
Video:President Uhuru Kenyatta’s during the launch of Global Entrepreneurship Summit [FULL SPEECH]

___
Video: President Obama Speech at Kenya’s Global Entrepreneurship Summit [FULL SPEECH]

__
Video: Obama’s Kenya trip begins with family dinner in father’s homeland

__
Video: Exclusive Meet Obama’s Kenyan family
President Obama’s sister and grandmother

__

Kenya protests at CNN broadcast

By ANGIRA ZADOCK
Daily Nation (Kenya)

The Kenyan government has protested to American broadcaster CNN for referring to the country as a “hotbed of terror”.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery on Thursday termed the broadcast a “sustained campaign” to portray Kenya in bad light.

“This announcement is based on lies. It demonstrates heightened irresponsibility by the media network and smacks of arrogance,” he told journalists at Harambee House in Nairobi.

“I take this opportunity to condemn this negative campaign by CNN and strongly protest at what is becoming a pattern of an anti-Kenya propaganda by CNN,” he added.

MOST PEACEFUL

Prior to 2013 General Election, Major-Gen (Rtd) Nkaissery said, the same CNN broadcast to the world carefully choreographed pictures of alleged warriors and militia training in a forest in preparation for war during and after election.

“The entire world knows that the 2013 General Election in Kenya was the most peaceful and celebrated event, without a single incident,” he said.

“I, therefore, take this opportunity to commend Kenyans for their patriotism, urge them to treat the CNN report with the contempt it deserves, and to stand proud at this historic moment for our country,” he added.

Following the report, Kenyans on Thursday morning took to Twitter to lash out at CNN.

BOWED TO PRESSURE

In broadcast, CNN claimed the US military had conducted nearly half a dozen secret air strikes in Somalia against Al-Shabaab militants because US intelligence indicated an attack against Kenyan troops.

The broadcaster later bowed to pressure from Kenyans on Twitter (KOT) and corrected the story to now call eastern Africa, not Kenya specifically, a “hotbed of terror”.

“The headline and lead of this article (have) been recast to indicate the terror threat is a regional one,” a CNN editors’ note reads at the beginning of story.

While the Kenyan government did not demand an apology from CNN, Mr Nkaissery said the broadcaster should issue one “if they are civilised enough”.

TERROR RISK

“Kenya like any other country in the world, is at risk of terrorist attacks. Owing to our proximity to Somalia, a country that has been used by international terrorist networks and agents to recruit, train and plan attacks against Kenya and the region, we have suffered terror attacks,” he said.

“However, while these attacks are tragic and unacceptable, they do not turn Kenya into a terror hotbed”, as alleged by the CNN.

“The reality is that Kenya has stood steadfast against this global challenge. We are part of the vanguard nations that are deployed in Somalia to restore peace and stability. We continue to host the world largest refugee camps,” the CS said.

____
Video: CNN blasted by Kenyans for ‘terror hotbed’ slur

___
Video: Apologise in the interest of civility, Kenya tells CNN

___