Posted on 12/06/2008 9:21:26 AM PST by FocusNexus
A black-tie dinner and ball are scheduled to take place on the night of the inauguration at posh Marriott Gateway Hotel.
It is said to be a pan-African gala in honour of the first US president of African descent.
Kenya's ambassador in Washington Peter Ogego said he hopes the new president and the First Lady will include the event in their round of inaugural balls.
Invitations are also being sent to incoming Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and UN ambassador Susan Rice, Mr Ogego added.
Mr Odinga is expected to attend both of the Kenya-sponsored inauguration celebrations.
The National Democratic Institute, a non-governmental democracy-promotion group, has invited him to take part in the Martin Luther King Jnr Day celebrations in Washington on January 18.
On the inauguration day, the Kenya mission will hold a reception at Washington Plaza Hotel near the route of the parade leading to President Obama's swearing in on the steps of the US Capitol.
The inaugural ball is being hosted by the African Ambassadors Group in Washington, along with the US Corporate Council on Africa and the World Bank - IMF African Society.
Tickets are priced at almost ($200) Sh16,000 per person for an event that Mr Ogego estimates will cost $200,000 (Sh15.8 million)
The envoy said also that the afternoon reception will be open to all and free of charge. However, the embassy will spend about $40,000 (Sh3.1million) on organising it.
"Everyone at the embassy in Washington is excited at the prospect of a US president with ties to Kenya," Mr Ogego said, adding that Mr Obama's election offers to Kenya lessons and potential benefits.
"The US has demonstrated we can all move beyond artificial barriers - be it race, class or ethnicity," he said.
Tangible gains for Kenya can already be felt, the envoy added and cited the uptick in US tourism to Kenya along with the international media attention that the country is receiving.
Additional benefits will come in time, Mr Ogego said, and pointed out, for example, that Bill Richardson, Mr Obama's designee as secretary of commerce, has visited Kenya on three occasions and regards himself as a good friend of the country.
President-elect Obama's convincing victory in the November poll over Republican John McCain triggered celebrations all over Kenya.
In his father's birth place of Kogelo, several bulls were slaughtered.
Reports said at the time that Mr Odinga joined the the celebrations as he, through an aide, provided more bulls.
This isn’t serious, right?
This is satire, right?
That was my reaction too.....
It’s incredible that no one cared enough to make the Odinga connection an issue during the election campaign.
people were more interested in talking about possible rioting if Zero lost, but no one mentioned the actual roots of his involvment in that happening in Kenya.
Oh brother, are we in for some serious trouble if true.
For Obama-Odinga connection, check out Atlas Shrugs:
http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2008/01/obamas-oginga-o.html
Welcome to the United States of Am-africa.
Just what we need, another terrorist in this country. The thought of this actually happening disgusts me.
Unfortunately, it IS true.
Did you note that Richardson has already been dispatched for multiple discussions in Kenya?
“Additional benefits will come in time, Mr Ogego said, and pointed out, for example, that Bill Richardson, Mr Obama’s designee as secretary of commerce, has visited Kenya on three occasions and regards himself as a good friend of the country.”
Maybe Odinga can burn a few churches while he’s here, just to celebrate the Coronation.
“I like Human meat... it is salty... like the meat of the Leopard”.
Idi Amin Dada
LLS
It was all about race, plain and simple. The RATS drafted an inexperienced, illegal black imposter who time and again brought up the race card to his opponent trying make each opponent out that he/she were bigots. Their minion the media goose-stepped into allegiance with the laughable reason that osama’s campaign was wellj-oiled and organized and the media likes well-oiled and organized so that negatives of the campaign looked like positives. Tells much about the illiteracy of mainstream media.
They kept it under the rug.
BTW, has Obama ever gone back to bury his white Granny?
Or released his medical information, birth certificate, writings from College?
It's Clinton all over again only WORSE.
The Clinton's were liars and crooks ... Obama is all that and worse. Obama HATES his country, the U.S..
“Everyone at the embassy in Washington is excited at the prospect of a US president with ties to Kenya,” Mr Ogego said, adding that Mr Obama’s election offers to Kenya lessons and potential benefits.”
Well, duh.
Dam it! Please don’t let this be for real...please
This is a nightmare if this is true. I’m really speechless to read this. I suppose during the inaugural party churches will be “lit” up. UGH!!!!!!!!!
Since our ‘president elect’ gave one million dollars to and went to Kenya to campaign for the Islam-backed mass murderer, Odinga, that makes him an accessory to mass murder.
Nice, huh?
Kenyan election violence culprits may be punished
http://africa.reuters.com/top/news/usnJOE4B20K2.html
“NAIROBI (Reuters) - The masterminds of Kenya’s post-election violence may be barred from politics or face lengthy jail sentences under a draft law to set up a special tribunal in the east Africa nation.
President Mwai Kibaki’s disputed re-election nearly a year ago brought two months of violence that killed 1,300 people, made 300,000 homeless, and shook the region’s biggest economy.
Public anger over impunity for the post-election chaos and killings is unprecedented, local analysts say, and finding the culprits could be a watershed moment for the nation of 36 million people that became independent from Britain in 1963.
Many Kenyans say the roots of violence — ethnic divisions, land issues, and the gap between rich and poor — have not been addressed. Some argue that the buck should stop with President Mwai Kibaki, and former opposition leader Raila Odinga who became prime minister in the power-sharing deal. “
Just...wow...Well, it’s going to be interesting!
Excellent points.
I’d just add that in addition to those in the MSM who are “illiterate”, those who can read are evil, intellectually dishonest ideologues.
“Well, it’s going to be interesting!”
Did you know that “May you live in interesting times” is a Chinese CURSE?
It will be interesting, all right. :(
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.