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Barack Obama's broken promise to African village
David Cohen, Evening Standard25.07.08
It is an extraordinary sight to walk into a basic two-room house under a mango tree in rural east Africa and discover what is essentially a shrine to Barack Obama.
The small brick house with no running water, a tin roof and roving chickens, goats and cows is owned by Sarah Obama, Barack's 86-year-old step-grandmother. Inside, the walls are decorated with a 2008 Obama election sticker, an old "Barack Obama for Senate" poster on which he has written "Mama Sarah Habai [how are you?]", a 2005 calendar that says "The Kenyan Wonder Boy in the US", and more than a dozen family photos.
But this bucolic scene in his father's village of Kogelo near the Equator in western Kenya conceals a troubling reality that, until now, has never been spoken about. Barack Obama, the Evening Standard can reveal, after we went to the village earlier this month, has failed to honour the pledges of assistance that he made to a school named in his honour when he visited here amid great fanfare two years ago.
At that historic homecoming in August 2006 Obama was greeted as a hero with thousands lining the dirt streets of Kogelo. He visited the Senator Obama Kogelo Secondary School built on land donated by his paternal grandfather. After addressing the pupils, a third of whom are orphans, and dancing with them as they sang songs in his honour, he was shown a school with four dilapidated classrooms that lacked even basic resources such as water, sanitation and electricity.
He told the assembled press, local politicians (who included current Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga), and students: "Hopefully I can provide some assistance in the future to this school and all that it can be." He then turned to the school's principal, Yuanita Obiero, and assured her and her teachers: "I know you are working very hard and struggling to bring up this school, but I have said I will assist the school and I will do so."
Obiero says that although Obama did not explicitly use the word "financial" to qualify the nature of the assistance he was offering, "there was no doubt among us [teachers] that is what he meant. We interpreted his words as meaning he would help fund the school, either personally or by raising sponsors or both, in order to give our school desperately-needed modern facilities and a facelift". She added that 10 of the school's 144 pupils are Obama's relatives. Obiero was not the only one to think that the US Senator from Illinois, who had recently acquired a $1.65 million house in Chicago, would cough up. Obama's own grandmother Sarah confidently told reporters before his visit: "When he comes down here, he will change the face of the school and, believe me, our poverty in Kogelo will be a thing of the past."
But the Evening Standard has heard that the promises he made to help the school as well as a local orphanage appear to have been empty.
Seven months ago I travelled to Iowa to cover the start of the US primaries and was impressed by Obama's charisma and integrity as he kicked off a thrilling battle with Hillary Clinton for the Democratic Presidential nomination. Now, with only John McCain standing in the way of him making history as America's first black President, and amid the fanfare over his current world tour, nowhere is this possibility more eagerly awaited than in Kogelo, the place where his father and grandfather are buried. Yet there is disappointment and hurt here, too. Granting us access to the school and its records, Principal Obiero, 48, tells us: "Senator Obama has not honoured the promises he gave me when we met in 2006 and in his earlier letter to the school. He has not given us even one shilling. But we still have hope."
The letter Obiero refers to - dated 22 June 2005, signed by Obama and addressed to her - was written after his election to the US Senate in 2004 and hangs, framed, on the wall of her spartan office alongside photographs of Obama's visit to their school. It says: "I am honoured that you have decided to rename the Kogelo School in my name.
The land that the school is built on was donated by my grandparents and I am proud to carry on the tradition of supporting the school."
Obiero and her board of governors followed up his letter offering " support" with a bald, formal request for funds in the form of a nine-page proposal, a copy of which has been provided to the Evening Standard, laying out their ambitions for the school. In it they ask for 8.2 million Kenyan shillings (approximately £65,000) to upgrade the school. The money would be used, they say, to bring water to the school by sinking a borehole and building a water tank, erect a perimeter fence, complete the science laboratory and add muchneeded new classrooms, additional latrines, and a school dining hall.
Obiero recalls: "When the US Ambassador William Bellamy came to visit the school for the official renaming ceremony in February 2006, we gave him two copies of the proposal, one for the Embassy and one to give to Senator Obama. But we have not heard anything from either of them since."
Recently, she adds, she gave another copy of the proposal to Obama's Kenyan half-sister, Auma Obama, who recently returned to Nairobi after living in England and working in children's services in Reading. Auma had been married to a British man but they are now divorced. "Auma also promised to pass it on to her brother," says Obiero.
When we ask an Obama spokesperson in Kenya, who is also a family member, why no support has been forthcoming, he says: "We have no comment, the family are not doing any interviews at this time."
However, the school's senior teacher Dalmas Raloo, 41, who is often used as a translator for Obama's grandmother who only speaks Luo, and is a friend of the family, says the family are mystified by what they are calling "Obama's lapse". "If you ask whether Obama's family think he should give something to the village and to the school, the answer is 'yes, definitely'. But they feel it should come from him spontaneously. They don't want to ask him for it."
During Obama's visit to the school, he opened their half-finished science laboratory (built with £4,900 raised by the community) and wrote in the visitor's book: "Congratulations on the new laboratory!" Today, the lab has been mothballed because they ran out of funds to equip it and because, critically, there is no running water. "We must pay the man with the donkey to fetch us water from the river four kilometres away," says Obiero. The situation in the school mirrors that of Kogelo village where the people live without water, electricity or access to proper healthcare and on average incomes of less than $1 a day. Yet they remain diehard fans of the man who has put their rural community on the map and have even renamed the beer, called Senator, in his honour: locals now order "an Obama".
Obama's "lapse" is all the more difficult to understand given that he wrote in his 1995 autobiography, Dreams from My Father, that Kogelo occupies a special place in his heart as being where he reconciled the diverse parts of himself - American and African, white mother and black father. Obama wrote how he fell to his knees, sobbing, between the graves of his father and grandfather at the family compound.
"When my tears were finally spent," he wrote, "I felt a calmness wash over me. I felt the circle finally close. I realised that who I was, what I cared about, was no longer just a matter of intellect or obligation, no longer a construct of words. I saw that my life in America - the black life, the white life, the sense of abandonment I'd felt as a boy, the frustration and hope I'd witnessed in Chicago - all of it was connected with this small plot of earth an ocean away."
Obama had visited Kogelo for the first time in the 1980s after attending Columbia University and then again in 1991 to research his memoirs after graduating from Harvard Law School. He would later become a civil rights lawyer and community organiser before going into politics and serving in the Illinois Senate in 1997 and then the US Senate in 2004.
On those two voyages of personal discovery to Kogelo, he learned that his grandfather, Hussein Onyango Obama, who lived to 105 according to his gravestone (1870-1975), had been a respected elder and witchdoctor. But it was the road travelled by his estranged father, Barack Hussein Obama, that inspired and intrigued him. His father had transcended his roots as a goat herder to get a PhD at Harvard and work for the Kenyan government before falling from grace and dying in a car accident in 1982 at just 46.
Barack's father, an economist, had split up with his white mother, Ann Dunham, from Kansas, when Barack was two. Apart from a month-long visit from his father when he was 10 years old, Obama would know him only through letters. As an adult he learned there was a darker side to his father, reflecting in his book that he had apparently also been "a bitter drunk", "an abusive husband", and "a defeated, lonely bureaucrat". But during this process of soul-searching he came to know and adore the elderly woman who had raised his father, his step-grandmother Sarah Obama.
We had been told that Sarah's house, which is adjacent to the school, was patrolled by two armed security guards - who pays their wages is not clear - but when we visited the home, Sarah was away in Nairobi and we were shown in by one of Obama's young cousins.
The house is basic with a concrete floor, an outside kitchen, latrines and no running water. The only sign of modernity is the recently installed solar power unit that provides electricity for lights and a television set. Chairs are neatly laid out around the sides of the living room, each with an embroidered cover and as you enter, there is a photograph of a young Barack Obama bent over under the weight of a sack of maize.
THE graves of Obama's father and grandfather are in the yard, and Obama's cousins and uncles, including Said Obama, 41, his father's younger brother, also live on the compound in smaller one-room houses. Behind the house there is a thriving maize plantation and a clump of banana trees in addition to the giant mango trees that dominate the property. Villagers say that despite her age, Sarah Obama still comes to market where she sells her homegrown fruit and vegetables.
The market is where we head next to speak to villagers about their hopes for an Obama victory in November and what it might do for their village. Mary Manasse, 40, who runs the Mama Siste Mini Shop selling staples such as bread and cow's milk (packaged in old Coke bottles) says she has a photograph of Obama shaking hands with her on his 2006 visit.
"Back then I was looking after 40 orphans at the orphan centre," she recalls. "We faced a desperate shortage of money and Obama told us that he especially liked special, dedicated projects like ours and wanted to help. We thought he would give funds to help our project but we got nothing. A few months later we were forced to shut down the orphan centre because of lack of funds. Just a million Kenyan shillings [£6,000] would have kept us going another year. I feel disappointed that he did not come through."
A few stalls away mango-seller Gladys Anyango, 60, does an impromptu Obama impression to the amusement of her fellow peddlers. She places her hands on her hips, gazes into the middle distance and, mimicking his deep voice, says: "How are you, people of Kogelo?" Her friends collapse with laughter. She also takes off Obama's wife, Michelle, who had accompanied him on his visit along with his two daughters, Malia and Sasha.
"Oh, but there will be a big party here when Obama wins," she adds. "We still have hope that he will bring electricity and build schools so the children have a good education. Maybe when he's President of America, he'll remember his roots and look after his community in Kenya."
Reader views (43)
He needs to keep our money over here and help our country. and PUT GOD FIRST.
- Linda, Plant city united states
I'm sure it's not the first and I KNOW it's not the last that we will see of Barack's broken promises.
- Danielle, delray beach, fl usa
WE dont need to expect a miracle to happen just because his father was a Kenyan. Its rediculos that the school came up with a budget of 8.2 million Kenya shillings, that is taking advantage of him. They need to look back and find out why he has gone dead on them. Poor guy does not harvest cash. Why didn't they come up with a reasonable budget. Another thing is Kogelo people need to wake up and work likr any other Kenya not to side down waiting from manner from Obama. I proud of him not getting back to them.
- Anne Nganga, Nairobi, Kenya
Dear Barack Obama
First I am Greeting you the best greeting how are you after my greeting.
Start Today,
Congregation for your wining my friend I am Somali I love my country, my people and my religion after that I am first one to choose your election so we need help ness about the refugee people in Somalia near in Kenya.
I hope you to continue your assistance for a Somalia and Kenya.
- Abuukar, Bosaso, somalia
Well this certainly doesn't surprise me in the least. Pity that laughably obvious liberal media bias doesn't allow things like this to make it into the headlines in America the same way disputes over McCain's POW experience and Palin's daughter's pregnancy have been splashed all over the place. Then again, compared to everything else that IS known about Obama -- from his heavy association with terrorists to his heavy association with the recent housing market mess -- this sort of thing just ices the cake.
- Elle, Kettering, OH, USA
in kenya their is free primary and secondary school funded by the government.their is also the constituency development fund of which the funds could be channeled towards development of schools.we also have busary funds for the needy bright students. all these funds are available for the development and it applies to all coners of kenya.whatever expectations that are required from obama are immaterial and character assasination
- Maurice Matunga, kisumu Kenya
So, isn't it time for the McCain campaign to run with this? This needs to be on every news channel! Obama sure "talks the talk" wherever he goes, but has no intention of following through. He'll say whatever people want to hear. I cannot believe that people believe anything he says. There are plenty of facts out there that should scare people to death about him becoming the leader of our nation. Even those that don't believe 100% in McCain need to remember that a vote for McCain is a vote AGAINST Obama! This is also no time in our history to be electing, or allowing to be elected, anyone with ANY Muslim history. (Nothing against Muslims, but Iran is routing for him.) Add that to the fact that he has NO experience and you have a dangerous combination. Compare this story to all that Cindy McCain has done as a matter of her own charity work-without fanfare or family ties. We NEVER hear about that on the news.
- Debe, Renton, USA.
I am stunned that I have never seen this. I follow politics to the T. I try to listen to all the networks to try to get a fair assessment. Why is this kind of stuff not out in the open. Give this information to Hannity. I guarentee you that it will come out if you do. Good stuff.
- Mase, Irvine, ca
What is so sad is that while a member of Trinity, he
could have had a fund raiser for the school. That he and
Michelle have not sought to upgrade the living conditions
of his elderly grandmother is appalling. It would not
take much. But then again, we all saw that they were only
giving 1% to charity, when their taxes were released.
Its a shame that for Obama...its all about Obama, until
he caught. Then his surrogates spin and spin and spin!
- Raven, LI, NY, USA
This is really sad, it would not cost much to make a big difference there. Obama has already shown us we his word means nothing, by his FISA vote this month. The campaign isn't over and he is already breaking his promises. Change we can NOT believe in!
- Rrow, media, USA
All Mr. Obama ever does is give phoney promises. He is a empty suit and a disgrace to United States. He is a cheap Chicago hood trying to play a game of president. Hillary was and is the strongest one to run this country. Obama only cares about himself. Send him away with 100 mirrors and he can kiss himself every where.
- Sandipuma, Las Vegas United States
And, after earning millions on his book he and his wife donated 1% to charity (mostly to Trinity United Church of Christ the anti-Semitic, racist and anti-American church they've attended for 20 years.) Sen. Clinton and former Pres. Clinton, on the other hand, have donated 10% to charity and paid over 30% in taxes.
We are still hopeful in America, that Democrats will nominate Sen. Clinton in Denver and put forth a candidate who will get us out of Iraq and turn around the economy and restore strength, grace and pride to America. Help us -- we must not let Sen. Obama become the next President.
- Ann, seattle, usa
Barack Obama is a disgrace!
- Kerri, Long Island, NY
He didn't even care enough to put forth the small effort it would take to save his own people, nor does he care what the people in Kenya think of him, nor the shame his Grandmother must feel because of him and his broken promises, so why will he care to keep the promises he's saying to us every day?
- C,Dslre, Omaha USA
I will never trust that guy. All words, grand standing politician.
- Lanz, CA, USA
Obama is not only stingy, he's incompetent! It's ridiculous to risk this kind of publicity by not following through on his promise.
He's been spending his money 'donating' to super delegates,painting out the flag on his airplane, donating $22,000 to Wright's "God damn America" church...!
Hopefully our super delegates will choose Hillary at the Dem convention Aug 25, with the help of groups such as "The Denver Group."
- F. Steele, Boulder, CO, USA
As reliable as a politician's promise ...
- Johnson, USA
When it comes to failing to honour commitments and promises, Barack Obama has proven that he is truly his absent father's son!
- Hadenough, Obamaville, USA
Myself and many longtime residents of Chicago have watched the many times he has promised certain things and yet has more times than not done nothing, but give lip service. He has a deep resonating desire to be in power, so much he'll do and say just about anything to get into Office. In all sincerity it is a very scary thing. It will be more than a shame if he becomes this once great nation's leader. God Help Us!
- Demitri, Chicago
Barack Obama is just a very typical Democrat crook.
- Al Bee, Sterling USA
It's not our responsibility nor is it the privilege of Barack Hussein Obama or any other politician under our laws to use our tax dollars for any use in any country other than our own. Why doesn't he donate some of the millions he made from the publication of his fantasy inspired best selling books to better his home village? Of course why do that when you can just empty the pockets of the American taxpayer a little more to make yourself look good. What a jerk.
- Mark, Raleigh USA
I would be happy to donate to the mentioned school if I can get the contact information. I would even be willing to set up a donation drive through my friends and acquaintances.
- Damon, phoenix, arizona, usa
Why are billions of dollars given over to these countries every year and then we see this unfortunate event? I'll tell you why. It is the greedy, power-hungry, self-absorbed heads of states that pocket the money and do not give a penny to these poor people. It is disgusting and sickening that we have such corrupt politicians, UN officials, and leaders of these countries who could care less about their people. It should make every citizen filled with anger and a desire to see justice prevail! The US congress wants to pass a bill by Mr. Obama to increase the amount of money given over to the poor of the world. Well, excuse me, but where are all the other billions of dollars going to help the poor. Oh, ya! The money goes to help build more palaces and mansions for the corrupt, political elite. It never is seen by the poor. I am all for helping the poor who desperately need help, but I do not trust my money with the government or for the government to feed the poor. They only feed their selfish greed and corruption!
- James Serra, Memphis, USA
Obama's as phony as they come. All he wanted was a photo op and a story. Just as slimy as the Clintons. I guess it depends on what the word "support" means.
And you want him for president?
- Miguel Raiz, las vegas usa
This is not a surprise to us here in the U.S. This guy is all WORDS no ACTION.
That is the problem with why many of us do not support him.
He is all about himself.
- Neil, Portland, Oregon
I see so much that Senator Hillary has done and I see so many promises senator Obama has made. I see his history on helping slum lords (Rezko) and shady land deals. I see him say he has great judgement but then says he didn't know the real rezko, or wright. in the future many will be able to say they didn't know the real Obama.
- Phishmelt, Bristol Connecticut USA
Well done story. Senator Obama is a "typical" politician and will say anything to get elected. He does not show others respect. If he did he would have kept his promise and game the proper funds to the school and orphanage. IF he respected others he would have visited our troops while in Germany. Mr. Cohen great article. Thank you for writing it.
- Dianej, NYC, USA
This is such a terrible story. Give or take some basic amenities, this is how Obama left the South side of Chicago: many promises, much (MUCH!) talk, no walk. "Empty suit" is the kindest characterization, but his bio is filled with Chicago thugs.
People say about Chicago (not entirely in jest) that no one from Chicago has ever been elected President because they're all indicted before Election Day.
The man has not been vetted, except by some horrified Democrats. He has hijacked the party, lied about how many millions he has to spend (and where he got it) and is tongue-tied and speechless without his handlers and teleprompters.
Bush is an ignorant disgrace, McCain's campaign is hopeless, and we're stuck with this fool.
No Obama.
- Tess, Mpls., USA
Obama will through all of them under the bus as he's done with the others. One thing these villagers did not realized that he just all words, and nothing else.
- Nancy Sabet, Chicago, IL
I'm sure that if this makes the big media in the U. S., and the focus groups say it is an issue, that school will be taken care of PDQ.
I'm sure there are plenty of rich lefties who want to curry favour with Sen. Obama. And donations to Kenyan schools aren't covered by campaign donation limits.
- Staghounds, Georgia USA
No doubt Obama doesn't want to pay anything out of his own pocket. Those donations are reserved for his buddy, Reverend Wright, who plans on moving into a million dollar home in the south suburbs of Chicago.
Obama was probably thinking long term, after he's elected President, he'll funnel the US taxpayers $$ to Africa (he says he'll double US funding to 3rd world countries on his website). In fact, his whole campaign is based on Santa Claus-like promises, yet he never explains how he'll finance anything.
Pray Hillary's name is placed in nomination as is normal democratic convention procedure. Obama/DNC is trying to stop that, since, as we know, he is afraid of true competition.
The only way the US can have an economic recovery is if Hillary leads the way!
As for Obama's relatives, friends and those schoolkids: Many US citizens already know: Obama is only interested in Obama.
- Annie Oakley, USA
In a way, I am sad that this community trusted a politician, even if he is of the community by blood. I see that the school only needed around $50,000, and the orphanage only needed around $5,000.00 to stay open?
You realize, Obama is a millionaire, and he could have donated to these places for charity quite easily. He has also raised hundreds of millions of dollars for his pre-GE campaign. The most in American history. You better believe he has the contacts, etc to raise money for his Luo tribe in Kenya.
I am not saying that Obama would not help them if he makes it to the White House, but this Kenyan community would likely get a lot more attention if they contacted Christian charity services, though, from what I hear--the Luo tribe is mainly Muslim.
I have a question: Why can't Raila Odinga help them? Raila Odinga plays like he is a man of hardly any means, but then he had an extravagant campaign...well, he has money. Why won't Raila Odinga help this school? Why didn't Raila Odinga save the orphanage? Odinga has many many political connections, and he has made his money in energy and oil, or so I have read.
In any event, I want to share that certainly not ALL democrats are pleased with Obama's candidacy. I personally perceive him to be a pathological liar. Please, whatever you do: Do not believe the American mainstream media on Obama. The U.S. media has become a propaganda machine for Obama, and it is scaring millions of us. It's become abnormal.
- Kat In Your Hat P.U.M.A., USA
I need to first address a comment made by Adrian...I'm not sure if I am reading you right, but are you under the impression that Barack H. Obama is the child of a mother and father who are both black?
That would be wrong. His father was from Kenya, and his mother was a white teenager from Kansas. Obama is certainly "mixed" / biracial / multi-racial. But yes, he is called "black" here in the states, and apparently elsewhere.
- Kat In Your Hat, USA
Ben - It isn't fair to accuse his relatives of greed, if that is what you are suggesting. Here in the states we haven't heard anything at all about his family, let alone that they want money.
It's sort of nice to see that his family is just as dysfunctional and opinionated as the rest of ours...
- Tom, Chicago, USA
I'm disappointed in the portrayal of this story, both from its one-sidedness (the author does not mention whether Senator Obama was contacted for the story) and the universal complexity involved with having family members in a developing country dependent upon you for a source of income.
As a person of Haitian descent, I struggle with the gaping needs of my country of origin, and yet need to support myself and my family in the United States. When assisting my uncle in his week-long medical missions to Haiti, we were often confronted with shakedowns for money or supplies by government agents and others who had access to important social channels that could have easily made our endeavour less pleasant.
It is one matter to send your auntie household expenses when you can, but to hand over $130,000 US to people who you have not built a working relationship with without any condition of accountability is a bit much for my taste. When I go to visit Haiti, I purchase items at home (usually school supplies and water purification tablets/equipment) and leave the distribution to the capable hands of organizations that my family suggests will ensure that the items will get to those in need. That is my immigrant reality -- and sadly, the reality of countless other New Americans who wish to help their countries thrive.
- Rachel, Medford, USA
If he can forget a promise like this, what promises can he forget IF he is elected to the presidency. He can revert back to his socialistic background and cause all sorts of problems in this country.
- Jerry J., decatur, il
It is funny that many middle income Americans can send hundreds of dollars each year to help impoverished people in Kenya or other countries in East Central Africa, but a rich attorney/politician and his rich attorney/corporate board member wife who have promised to help, can't be bothered.
It is appalling and makes me sick. If he can't follow through on this simple promise (and not so expensive promise) how the heck is he going to follow through on any of his campaign promises?! Just an empty suit.
- Pteri, Columbus USA
His community in Kenya? I think the answer for the neglect may lay in the fact that Obama was born in Kenya, not the USA. He has distanced himself because of one very inconvenient US law.
- Dart, Waterford, USA
Obama will use his so called family as long as it suits him, and if any money ever reaches these poor people, it'll probably be compliments of the American or European people, not Obama.
- David, SC, US
"Seven months ago I travelled to Iowa to cover the start of the US primaries and was impressed by Obama's charisma and integrity as he kicked off a thrilling battle with Hillary Clinton for the Democratic Presidential nomination."
Obama seldom keeps a promise. Research the housing he promised the people in Il. He made out, his contractor friends made out, the poor people suffered. Just like most politicians.
You were right about the charisma, he has loads of it; just no integrity. If you want more, there are all kinds of places on the web that make ALL the video on Obamas stance on the surge available... he's actually quite baldfaced in his bs'ing.
To Adrian: Obama's mom was white, thus "mixed race" does apply. I think Ben meant "his African family" to actually mean the members of his family that are African and/or live in Africa.
- Ken, Mineral Point, WI, United States.
This man will lie his way into the White House. He will say and do whatever it takes to get elected. Once elected, the world had better take notice, because it well spell the end of America's greatness...it will become the "Obama nation of desolation!"
- Chris Dickson, Midwest, USA
Just a pointer to the previous message from Ben S.
You can't be mixed rice if all your parents are black! Then you went on to say, his African family..
I think you wanted to say the first black president..
- Adrian, London
Barak Obama's father more a less ignored for all of his childhood. I think that is more of a broken promise, than that made by Obama to help his father's African village. Now that Obama's may be the first USA's fist ever "Mixed Race" President, his African family suddenly want to know him and want some form of finance from him!
- Ben S, London
