World ICT executives to witness Obama’s swearing-in ceremony next week

A NUMBER of companies in information and communication technology the world-over are preparing to travel to the United States next week to witness the swearing-in ceremony of President-elect Barack Obama as the first black leader of that country.

Obama, who romped to victory in November last year with extensive use of technology in his election campaign, has captured the imagination of the world with information and technology (IT) companies in Asia and the Middle East getting ready to travel to the US for the inauguration on 20 January.

“Many directors from mobile phone companies, computer manufacturers and information technology experts are eager to see the man who made history by winning elections through the use of technology. There is no way the world would deny the role that technology played in Obama’s victory,” said Nigel Otieno, a businessman running a technology business.

Meetings at various mobile phone companies, technology and telecommunications companies were reported to have raised the issue to travel to the US to witness this historic event.

“More importantly, Obama is our own (his father was born in Kenya) and we will be proud to shake his hand if we can get a chance,” said Raphael Odinga, a Kenyan.

But the inauguration of Obama will not be witnessed by members of the Kenyan government, after they were all denied visas to enter the US under unclear circumstances.

Only Kenya’s High Commissioner to the United States Peter Ogego will represent his country.–ITNewsAfrica.