While in Kenya, Mr Obama reportedly visited Nyang’oma K’ogelo in Siaya County, the village where his father grew up. He also attended a launch event for Sauti Kuu’s new sports and vocational centre, where he delivered a speech detailing his first trip to Kenya, at 27 years old, and the time he spent with Ms Auma Obama. Mr Obama commended his sister for the opportunities her foundation provides the youth.

Mr Obama can be seen dancing and later playing basketball during the launch ceremony for the centre in videos published online.

In a Twitter post published 15, July, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta wrote that he met with the former US president and Ms Auma Obama during Mr Obama’s visit.

“It was a great pleasure to welcome you back,” Mr Kenyatta wrote.

Mr Kenyatta and his political opposition leader Raila Odinga notably held a surprise meeting promising unity and healing in March, following a period of political strife after Mr Kenyatta’s election victory. Mr Obama was reportedly expected to meet with Mr Odinga during his visit, the AP reported.

“We are upbeat about the coming of the President Barack Obama,” said Siaya County Governor Cornell Rasanga ahead of Mr Obama’s visit.

Mr Obama memorably visited Kenya in a much-anticipated visit as president in 2015.

Former U.S. President Barack Obama addresses players at the basketball court during the launch of Sauti Kuu resource centre near his ancestral home in Nyangoma Kogelo village in Siaya county, western Kenya July 16, 2018.
Former US president Barack Obama (C) poses for photographs with his step-grandmother Sarah Onyango Obama (R) and an unidentified local student (L), during an opening ceremony of the Sauti Kuu Sports, Vocational and Training Centre in his ancestral home Kogelo, some 400km west of the capital Nairobi, Kenya, 16 July 2018.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama meets children as he tours the Sauti Kuu resource centre near his ancestral home in Nyangoma Kogelo village in Siaya county, western Kenya July 16, 2018. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya
Former US president Barack Obama (R) shakes hands with a local student during an opening ceremony of the Sauti Kuu Sports, Vocational and Training Centre in his ancestral home Kogelo, some 400km west of the capital Nairobi, Kenya,

 

Former U.S. President Barack Obama addresses players at the basketball court during the launch of Sauti Kuu resource centre near his ancestral home in Nyangoma Kogelo village in Siaya county, western Kenya.
Former US President, Barack Obama (2L) poses for a photograph with local young beneficiaries on July 16, 2018 during the opening of the Sauti Kuu Resource Centre, founded by his half-sister, Auma Obama (3R) at Kogelo in Siaya county, western Kenya. Obama is in the east african nation for the first time since he left the US presidency and met with President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga in Nairobi.