HOW SECRET SERVICE BARRED KIDERO FROM BIDDING OBAMA FAREWELL

HOW SECRET SERVICE BARRED KIDERO FROM BIDDING OBAMA FAREWELL

Posted on Jul 27, 201522251 Views

US President Barack Obama waves as he boards Air Force One prior to his departure from Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi on July 26, 2015.

By NAIROBI NEWS REPORTER

Embarrassing details have emerged how President Barack Obama’s secret service barred Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero from bidding him farewell at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Governor Kidero was part of a large delegation that had arrived at JKIA on Sunday evening, half an hour before President Obama arrived at the airport from Kenyatta University.

The delegation was led by President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto.

But as they made their way to the waiting area, secret service agents stopped them and a quick cut-off had to be done to reduce the number.

KIDERO SACRIFICED

Governor Kidero, who had welcomed President Obama when he arrived on Friday, was sacrificed in favour of Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua.

President Obama even chatted briefly with Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua before boarding Air Force One for the next leg of his trip in Ethiopia.

The brief camaraderie with President Obama was a change of fortune of sorts for Governor Mutua. When Mr Obama visited Kenya as a senator in 2006, Dr Mutua described him as a junior senator and criticised him for speaking out against corruption.

COMEDY OF EMBARRASSMENTS

Governor Kidero ordeal at JKIA on Sunday evening topped up the comedy of embarrassments he has endured throughout the visit by the United States President.

Charged with the responsibility of sprucing up the city ahead of President Obama’s visit, he bungled every aspect of it, with the never growing #KideroGrass standing out in his list of shame.

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