News courtesy of East African Standard - October 2, 2008

He said the United Kingdom produced the highest number of tourists (42,763 arrivals) between July and September, followed by the US (25,315) and Italy (13,105). However, this trend, he said, is likely to change as more tour operators, locally and abroad, introduce the Obama factor to market Kenya as the preferred tourism destination. The MD revealed that one American tour operator has organised a tour to the country, purposely to visit Kogelo village, where President Obama’s father was born.

The New York based tour firm announced shortly after President Obama was elected last week that it had introduced a 11-day presidential heritage safari in its global tours. Achieng said the planned safari also targets Mt Kenya forest, Lake Nakuru Park, and the Masai Mara Game Reserve. The safari would then head North West to Kisumu. "An additional two nights will be spent in Kisumu, during which time travellers will visit the village of Kogelo, the final resting place of Obama Sr," said a dispatch from the company made available to the Standard.

"The travellers will then drive to the shore of Lake Victoria, visit the Kisumu Museum and the city and meet Luo ethnic groups to learn first hand, more of the culture of the United States’ first African-American President."

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