Kenya calls U.S. asylum for Obama aunt an embarrassment

Tom Odula
The Washington Times
8/20/2010

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya’s government is unhappy with the impression created by a U.S. court ruling that granted asylum to President Obama‘s aunt for saying she could be targeted by members of Kenya’s government if deported, an official said Friday.

Government spokesman Alfred Mutua described the case of Zeituni Onyango as an embarrassment and said the allegations made against Kenya were untrue and unrealistic.

“It has become a habit for Kenyans seeking asylum in other countries to lie. Her case is an embarrassment to this country and President Obama,” Mr. Mutua said. “We are not looking for her. The government does not have any problem with Zeituni Onyango.”

Earlier this week, U.S. Immigration Judge Leonard Shapiro said he gave Ms. Onyango asylum in the U.S. because she would be a target inKenya not only for those who oppose the United States and Obama but for members of the Kenyan government.

Ms. Onyango is the half sister of Mr. Obama’s late father and has been living in public housing in Boston.

Judge Shapiro granted Ms. Onyango asylum in May after her case was heard during a closed trial. His written decision was released this week through the Freedom of Information Act…

…Many of Mr. Obama’s relatives live peacefully in Kenya, including his grandmother, who is a celebrity here. The government connected Sarah Obama’s home to the national power grid and made the road leading to her village more passable since Mr. Obama’s election win.

Read the complete article at the The Washington Times.

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