UNITED States President-elect Barack Obama touched base with his roots on Tuesday night when he telephoned Kenya’s President Mwai Kibaki.
Obama, whose father is Kenyan, discussed a range of issues concerning the two countries with Kibaki.
A statement from Kenya State House made available to our reporters on Wednesday, said the East African country’s leader and Obama’s conversation dwelt on issues of mutual interest and future plans of engagement.
Kibaki once again congratulated Obama on his “historic and well deserved victory” in the US presidential election last week, which made him the first black leader of the country.
Kibaki also took the opportunity to convey the best wishes of the people of Kenya to Obama, noting that his victory had been received with immense pride and gratification.
He said the Kenyan people fully understood the US president-elect owed his allegiance to the American people but were confident that Kenya would always have a special place in his heart.
Kibaki told Obama that he looked forward to strengthening co-operation and ties with the US and wished him God’s blessings during his tenure as the 44th US president.
He extended an invitation to Obama to visit Kenya at his earliest convenience.
