Obama urges Kenya to use tough past to guide its future

1President Barack Obama, third from left, stands before the playing of the National Anthem during a state dinner at State House, on Saturday, July 25, 2015, in Nairobi, Kenya.
2Obama's visit to Kenya is focused on trade and economic issues, as well as security and counterterrorism cooperation.
3From left, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, National Security Adviser Susan Rice, Obama, and Kenyan first lady Margaret Kenyatta.
4President Barack Obama delivers a speech at Safaricom Indoor Arena, Sunday, July 26, 2015, in Nairobi.
5On the final day of his visit in Kenya, Obama laid out his vision for Kenya's future, and broad themes of U.S.-Kenya relations.
6President Barack Obama waves as he arrives to deliver a speech at Safaricom Indoor Arena, Sunday, July 26, 2015, in Nairobi.
7People cheer as President Barack Obama arrives to deliver a speech at Safaricom Indoor Arena, Sunday, July 26, 2015, in Nairobi.
8President Barack Obama waves goodbye to the crowd, underneath American and Kenyan flags, after delivering a speech at the Safaricom Indoor Arena in the Kasarani area of Nairobi, Kenya, Sunday, July 26, 2015.
9Obama is traveling on a two-nation African tour where he will become the first sitting U.S. president to visit Kenya and Ethiopia.
10Members of the audience at the front of the crowd listen to President Barack Obama deliver a speech at the Safaricom Indoor Arena in the Kasarani area of Nairobi, Kenya Sunday, July 26, 2015.
11Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta waves to the crowd, as Deputy President William Ruto stands behind, right, as they arrive to listen to the speech of President Barack Obama at the Safaricom Indoor Arena in the Kasarani area of Nairobi, Kenya Sunday, July 26, 2015.
12President Barack Obama speaks during a meeting with civil society leaders at the YALI Regional Leadership Center, on Sunday, July 26, 2015, in Nairobi.
13On the final day of his visit in Kenya, Obama laid out his vision for Kenya's future and broad themes of U.S.-Kenya relations.
14President Barack Obama, bottom right, shakes hands with supporters after delivering a speech at Safaricom Indoor Arena, Sunday, July 26, 2015, in Nairobi.
15Kenyan schoolgirls wave American flags as they await the arrival of President Barack Obama to deliver a speech at the Safaricom Indoor Arena in the Kasarani area of Nairobi, Kenya Sunday, July 26, 2015.
16President Barack Obama delivers a speech at the Safaricom Indoor Arena in the Kasarani area of Nairobi, Kenya Sunday, July 26, 2015.
17President Barack Obama told Kenyans on Sunday that their country is at a crossroads and urged them to "choose the path to progress" by continuing to root out corruption, confront terrorism and be more inclusive of women and girls.
18Closing out a historic visit to the land of his father's birth, Obama said Kenya has come so far in just his lifetime, but can go even further.
19"You can choose the path to progress, but it requires making some important choices," he said in a speech to several thousand Kenyans packed into an indoor arena here in Kenya's capital, a normally bustling place that largely has been on lockdown during Obama's stay.
20Thousands more Kenyans lined Obama's motorcade route to the arena and his roughly 40-minute speech was broadcast on TV.
21Obama became the first sitting U.S. president to visit Kenya with his arrival last week, years after he was first elected in 2008 and after many Kenyans had grown restless waiting for the man they consider a local son to return.
22Obama previously had come in 2006 when he was a U.S. senator.
23He was introduced at the arena by Auma Obama, his sister on his father's side of the family, who presented him to the audience as "my brother, your brother, our son."
24The president traced the history of Kenya's evolution, from colonialism and isolation to independence and global engagement since it won independence from the British just over 50 years ago, in December 1963.
25But Obama said challenges remain.
26He urged Kenyans - particularly its future leaders - to deal with corruption and tribal conflict, create opportunity for all, improve education and health care, treat women better and confront the threat of terrorism.
27"When it comes to the people of Kenya, particularly the youth, I believe there is no limit to what you can achieve," he said.
28"Because of Kenya's progress - because of your potential - you can build your future right here, right now."
29The speech struck many of the same notes that Obama has hit in remarks during past visits to Africa, urging the continent's leaders to shape up and not look to others to determine their destiny.
30He said corruption was not unique to Kenya but described the pervasiveness of it in Kenya as a "cancer" that is holding back every aspect of economic and civic life like an "anchor."
31Obama noted Kenya's booming economy - it has one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa - and asked that the country's economic gains be shared more broadly with all Kenyans.
32He urged an end to old tribal and ethnic divisions that he said are "doomed to tear our country apart" and urged Kenya's leaders, as he did President Uhuru Kenyatta during their meetings on Saturday, to confront the terrorist threat posed by al-Shabab militants based across the border in Somalia.
33The group has killed scores in Kenya in brazen attacks carried out in the past two years.
34Obama also pressed for more tolerance and respect of women and girls, calling for an end to violence against women, forced marriages for girls who should otherwise be attending school, sexual assault and the tradition known as "genital mutilation."
35Kenyatta has taken steps to tackle corruption by suspending four Cabinet secretaries and 16 other senior officials amid an investigation into allegations of dishonesty.
36But the suspensions have been met with skepticism by the public because past suspensions of senior officials haven't resulted in anyone being convicted of a crime.
37Some officials even returned to their jobs before investigations were complete.
38Kenyatta has been under public pressure to act following reviews of his 2-year-old regime, published in local media by opposition and economic experts, claiming that his administration is more corrupt than previous governments.
39Even before arriving last week, Obama tried to rein in Kenyans' sky-high expectations for his trip.
40Red carpets and heavy security are standard for presidential trips, but family streaming in from the countryside for a reunion isn't.
41Obama said he had a good time catching up with his extended family over dinner Friday night.
42Auma Obama met him at the airport and rode in the presidential limousine with him to dinner, in addition to accompanying him to Sunday's speech.
43Relatives also attended a Saturday state dinner for Obama.
44Obama met with African youth and civic leaders and was interviewed by a local radio host before departing Kenya.
45He vowed on Saturday to return once he is free of the trappings of the presidency that he says have made it difficult to visit family here.
46His next and final stop is Ethiopia, another Horn of Africa nation that is getting its first visit by a sitting U.S. president.
47Obama planned meetings with Ethiopia's president and prime minister, and a separate session with the leaders of Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda to discuss the situation in South Sudan, which has been gripped by turmoil since a civil war broke out in December 2013.
48Obama will also speak to the continent from the headquarters of the African Union, which plays a role in peace and security throughout Africa.
49It will be the first time an American president addresses the AU.