Commemorating President Obama's visit to Kenya

AFRICA ON THE MOVE

COMMEMORATING PRESIDENT OBAMA’S VISIT TO KENYA QUARTERLY UPDATE OCTOBER 2015

Pete Souza | White House

STUART PRICE | MEAACT

“I’m here as a friend who wants Kenya to succeed.

And the pillars of that success are clear: Strong democratic governance; development that provides opportunity for all people and not just some; a sense of national identity that rejects conflict for a future of peace and reconciliation.” ~ U.S. President Barack Obama Nairobi, Kenya July 26, 2015

EMPOWERING A NEW GENERATION OF

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hrough our Young African Leaders Initiative, we are empowering and connecting young people from across the continent who are filled with energy and optimism and idealism, and are going to take Africa to new heights. And these young people, they’re not weighted down by the old ways. They’re creating a new path. And these are the elements for success in this 21st century,” President Obama said in his address to the Kenyan people.

During this speech, President Obama recognized Josephine Kulea, founder of the Samburu Girls Foundation, which has rescued more than 1,000 girls from abuse and forced marriage. Josephine is a recipient of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, a Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) flagship program.

Pete Souza | White House

LEADERS YALI is bringing leadership and networking to thousands of young people across the continent. Kenya is home to the YALI Regional Leadership Center East Africa – one of four on the continent.

These centers equip emerging leaders with knowledge, skills and determination to build a more prosperous Africa.

Pete Souza | White House

LIGHTING UP LIVES

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lectricity provides opportunities that can transform lives. With power, more Kenyans can run businesses, access modern medical technology and use computers to connect to the world.

President Obama’s Power Africa initiative is linking private investors with opportunities to bring cleaner, more affordable energy to millions of homes and businesses.

During his visit, President Obama toured an off-the grid innovation fair.

He spoke with June Muli, head of customer care for M-KOPA, which provides “pay-as-you-go� solar energy to homes that are not connected to the national electricity grid. In 2012, USAID helped guarantee a loan, so M-KOPA could lease more systems. Since then, the company has connected more than 200,000 homes in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda to solar power, and is now adding more than 500 new homes each day.

Axel Fassio | USAID

AMPLIFYING THE

POWER OF THE PEOPLE

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he ability of citizens to organize and advocate for change – that’s the oxygen upon which democracy depends,” President Obama said in his address to the Kenyan people.

As part of the United States Government commitment to “stand with civil society,” USAID strengthens the ability of these organizations to effectively advocate for the issues that matter most to Kenyans and to engage productively with local government. By becoming avenues for constructive citizen engagement, civil society can turn words into actions that improve the lives of ordinary Kenyans.

A head teacher addresses parents’ concerns on how public funds are used for a local school in Kilifi County. These meetings, called “people’s parliaments” or “bunge la Mwananchi,” are facilitated by civil-society organizations, and provide a place where community members can raise important issues and propose solutions directly to public servants and officials. USAID supports these exchanges as a way to build public confidence, especially among communities in the Coastal region that have long felt marginalized.

SPARKING

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ENTREPRENEURSHIP

enya is a major frontier for innovation and investment. The country was the first sub-Saharan African site of the Global Entrepreneurship Summit.

From agriculture to energy, Kenyans are starting small businesses that are unlocking new solutions to development challenges. “Entrepreneurship creates new jobs and new businesses, new ways to deliver basic services, new ways of seeing the world – it’s the spark of prosperity,” President Obama said during the summit in Nairobi.

USAID creates conditions for entrepreneurs to succeed. Our support helps them sharpen their skills and business acumen and to access valuable capital and networks to grow their businesses. During his visit, President Obama acknowledged many of the entrepreneurs we work with, including Jamila Abass, founder and CEO of M-Farm. Her mobile innovation is supported by the President’s Feed the Future initiative and connects farmers to markets.

Amos Rono | U.S. Embassy Nairobi

REALIZING AN

Tugela Ridley | USAID

AIDS-FREE FUTURE

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hen a girl has access to health services, education and economic opportunities she has more power to define her future. When she escapes the cycle of poverty, she often brings her family, community and country with her.

During his visit, President Obama announced Kenya as a partner in the DREAMS initiative, an effort to help young women and adolescent girls achieve AIDS-free futures by addressing the many challenges that make them particularly vulnerable to infection, including gender-based violence, early and forced marriages and a lack of meaningful opportunities.

In 2014, USAID trained a corps of more than 2,000 peer educators throughout schools in Nairobi. Margaret Wanjiku , second from right, is a peer educator at Ruthimitu Mixed Secondary School in Nairobi.

After learning how to connect with her peers on sensitive issues, such as HIV/AIDS, and alcohol and drug abuse, she is influencing her classmates to make healthy choices.

CONSERVING AFRICA’S

Juan Pablo Moreiras | USAID

NATURAL HERITAGE

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hile Kenya has made progress in reducing poaching, the country remains the number-one transit point of illegally traded ivory and rhino horn in Africa. Wildlife trafficking is one of the largest black markets in the world, and threatens to devastate populations of such iconic species as elephants, rhinos, pangolins and big cats.

During his visit, the President announced a sweeping ban on U.S. ivory sales, the latest in a series of efforts to end illegal wildlife trade. Guided by the President’s National Strategy for Combatting Wildlife Trafficking, USAID supports anti-poaching and counter-trafficking projects in Kenya and throughout East Africa. Our on-the-ground efforts help local communities, organizations and governments fight poaching and develop policies that enable conservation. We are also encouraging the development and use of innovative technologies for investigating and prosecuting wildlife crime.

Amos Rono | U.S. Embassy Nairobi

U.S. Agency for International Development P.O. Box 629,Village Market 00621 Telephone +254.20.862.2000 Fax +254.862.2680/2682

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