US President Barack Obama (left) and South African President Jacob Zuma
(right) give a press conference at the Union Building in Pretoria, South
Africa, June 29, 2013. President Barack Obama said Saturday the
"timing was not right" for him to travel to Kenya. AFP
By AFP
Posted Saturday, June 29 2013 at 14:21
Posted Saturday, June 29 2013 at 14:21
US President Barack Obama said Saturday the
"timing was not right" for him to travel to Kenya, his father's
homeland, during his current Africa tour, but he expected to go there
many times in the future.
Obama said the new government of President
Kenyatta was still finding its feet after an election in March, and that
Nairobi was "still working out issues with the international
community".
He was referring to a looming trial for President
Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto at the International Criminal Court
for their alleged roles in deadly violence that killed more than 1,000
people after 2007 polls.
"The timing was not right for me as president of
the United States to be visiting Kenya when those issues need to be
worked on," Obama said.
But the US leader said he had visited Kenya multiple times before he was president and expected to return.
"My personal ties to the people of Kenya, by definition are going to be strong and will stay strong," he said.
Obama's Africa tour started in Senegal, and he is currently in South Africa. He will wrap up his week-long journey in Tanzania.
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