The government will construct a multi million shillings museum at the Nyang'oma Kogelo home of the United States of America president elect, Barrack Obama's grand parents, tourism minister, Najib Balala has said.
Already, Balala said, his ministry had allocated five million shillings for the project, adding that more funds will be sourced from both the treasury and the private sector.
He was speaking at the Obama's home in Nyang'oma Kogelo, Siaya when he led a high powered delegation from the ministry of tourism to visit U.S. president elect's grand mother, Mama Sarah Obama.
Balala's entourage included the PS in the ministry Rebecca Nabutola, the managing director of the Kenya Tourism Board, Dr. Ongong'a Achieng and the director of tourism, Wanjiru Munene .
Balala said the government was keen on cashing in on the Obama victory to woo more tourists in Kenya adding that his ministry will liaise closely with the Obama family to develop an appropriate tourist attraction site.
The museum, said the Minister, will capture the history of the Late Barrack Obama senior, father to the president elect, history of the communities in Western region of the country and a reflection of the rest of the country.
The Minister said that his ministry was taking advantage of the interest that people both locally and abroad had in the village in which the world super power's president hails from to open up the Western tourism circuit.
Dubbed "The Obama Route", Balala said that this will stimulate tourist's interests in tourism potential sites such as Kakamega forest, Lake Victoria and numerous game reserves that have not been attracting tourists.
"The international interest that is developing because of Barrack Obama's victory in the United States presidential elections must be structured to take care of both the interest of the family, Kogelo community and the country at large" he said.
Balala said his ministry will soon launch an aggressive campaign in the United States to market the country.
Kenya tourism reportedly slumped by 30% following the post election violence .
In 2007, Kenya earned $620 million in the third quarter from tourists drawn to its white beaches and adventurous game parks.
Officials expect this year's total earnings will reach only $665 million, representing a 23 per cent decline in earnings.
Since Obama's election victory, Kogelo has revelled in immediate upgrades to electricity and roads, while Obama's grandmother has had tightened security at her home
Kenyan Ambassador Obama was born in Kenya
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1 comment:
And the fat and stupid could care less. They are still doped on hope and change. Some of us demand peace of mind in this matter. Our Constitution needs to be upheld no matter the costs.
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