My two meetings with Obama : Otiende Omolo Reflections

By Lucianne Limo

The time could not have been more right when lawyer Otiende Amollo had a rare opportunity to meet with Senator Barack Obama.

Then in 2006, Amollo was a young lawyer trying to get into the murky world of politics.

However, that changed when he met Barack Obama, who encouraged him not to give up but face his hurdles.

Amollo was among the few people selected to meet Obama during his six-day visit to Kenya to discuss various issues affecting the country.

Amollo recalls that they held formal discussions with Obama where he gave his perspective and views on the political arena.

"After the formal meeting, Obama called me aside and interestingly told me that he thought that, given my perspectives and insights, I would make a good politician," he says.

He adds: "I told him that as a matter of fact, I had made the decision to venture into politics but that decision was being hampered by a lot of hurdles".

Amollo told Obama that he would vie for a parliamentary seat in Rarieda Constituency.

Politics of age

"Obama asked me what the hurdles were and I told him that politics in Kenya is hampered by a number of things and one of them is age," says Amollo.

Amollo bitterly told of how politics had become a club of senior citizens and a young man automatically becomes unqualified by virtue of age.

Amollo also mentioned tribalism as one of the fundamental hindrances and that politics was defined along party and personality lines.

"I also told him that politics in Kenya is extremely expensive. Which means that, unless you are either old and rich, one cannot make it," he said

Obama heard that Kenyan politics is not for professionals and the more professional one is, the less qualified they become in politics.

"I told him the greatest challenge would be to family and private life," he adds.

Amollo recalls how Obama encouraged him and told him that that while the issues he had mentioned were legitimate, they should not and cannot be a hindrance. "He told me about his life and his experiences when he first plunged into politics."

"He told me when he ran for the Illinois Senate seat, he was not rated anywhere and was outrightly dismissed as a non-starter," he recalls.

Challenges

Obama told Amollo that he also faced numerous challenges during his initial attempts to venture into politics.

"He told me about his initial attempts and the bottlenecks and challenges he faced with family in terms of time. He said ‘the bottom-line is, politics whether in Kenya or USA is time consuming,’" says Amollo.

Obama told Amollo that he also faced similar challenges on age.

Adds Amollo: "Obama persuaded me that ultimately, if your focus is right, your principles clear and intentions genuine, any bottlenecks cannot stop you".

Amollo says they talked about challenges he faced as a young lawyer and while growing up as a young man in Nyanza, which he said intrigued Obama.

After a lengthy chat, Amollo said they exchanged contacts and that of his personal assistant.

Late last year, Amollo was invited by the US Government for an international leadership programme where he toured a number of states.

Hectic Schedule

While there, Amollo says he contacted Obama’s office and got a slot to meet Obama in Seattle.

"It was at the heat of the campaign at Seattle and I had much less time to talk to him but he acknowledged my presence and asked me about Kenya. He told me that his schedule had become hectic but he was soldiering on.

Amollo observed then that his security had become tight though he noticed that Obama would have loved to mingle freely with people.

"Thousands of people were there who paid Sh8,000 to see him and later he was hosting a Sh80,000 per-plate dinner," says Amollo.

Amollo describes Obama as a simple and most intelligent.

"He is very easy to converse with and unlike many people who think that they are intelligent and want to dominate discussion, he listens more and grasps the situation much quicker.

Amollo says he is certain Obama will emerge the victor in today’s elections.