Obama: ‘I’m Proud to Return as the First U.S. President to Ever Visit Kenya’

RUSH TRANSCRIPT:

BARACK OBAMA: "I want to reiterate what I said earlier to you and the people, thank you for the extraordinary welcome you've given me and for the same kindness you've shown me for my first visit to Kenya nearly 30 years ago. I'm proud to return as the first U.S. President to ever visit Kenya while still in office. I need to give a special acknowledgement to everybody. [ Applause ] I'm well aware, however, that the enthusiasm we're seeing today for my visit is a reflection of something bigger, and that's the desire among the Kenyan people for a deeper partnership with America, and that's why I'm here. My work with president kenyatta today has been rooted in our shared recognition that the interests of both our nations and the lives of both our peoples can be advanced if our countries deepen and expand our cooperation, and that's what we've agreed to today.