Kenya: Anti-Obama Author Kicked Out of Country
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The Nation (Nairobi)
7 October 2008
Posted to the web 8 October 2008
Samuel Siringi And Dominic Wabala
Nairobi
An American author who came to Kenya to discredit Barack Obama was deported on Tuesday night.
Writer Jerome Corsi was arrested shortly after 8am just as he was about to address a news conference to launch his anti-Obama book in Nairobi.
He was taken to the Immigration headquarters at Nyayo House and later deported on the British Airways midnight flight out of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Dr Corsi, author of The Obama Nation: Leftist Politics and the Cult of Personality, which has been heavily criticised worldwide for its inaccuracies, came to Kenya more than a week ago, and had been staying with friends in Runda.
Radical Islam
He was due to launch the book, which depicts Mr Obama, whose father was Kenyan, as a sympathiser of radical Islam and communism, at the Laico Regency Hotel.
But he was arrested there before he could speak and driven with an assistant, Mr Timothy M. Bueler, to Nyayo House, around 500 metres away.
The Immigration officials also impounded copies of the Obama book.
At Nyayo House, the two were held for four hours and questioned by officials led by the Director of Immigration, Mr Albert Musasia, about his presence in Kenya.
The decision to deport him was made after it emerged that Dr Corsi and Mr Bueler had entered the country as tourists, stating they intended to visit game parks.
The book launch was a commercial venture, therefore, they had contravened their immigration status.
After questioning, the two were taken to the office of the Permanent Secretary, Mr Emmanuel Kisombe, and from there through the basement to a car in which they were driven to the house where Dr Corsi had been staying in Runda for verification of his passport and visa before they were escorted to the airport.
There he and his aide were held in the Immigration office to await their flight out of the country.
A US embassy official said they were not told officially about the arrests, saying they had learnt about them from the media.
The official said Dr Corsi's was a private individual's visit and did not warrant comment from the embassy since he was not a US government official.
Questioned
Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe commented later that the two US citizens were summoned by the Immigration department to be questioned on the status of their stay in the country.
He also said that they had chosen to fly out of the country voluntarily after being questioned.
Dr Corsi flew into Kenya last Tuesday and was booked to stay at the Laico Regency (formerly Grand Regency) at 7.55am, although hotel communications manager Jeniffer Wanza said he had been staying in Runda.
Dr Corsi was expected to stay at the hotel for one month.
General manager Solomon Adede later issued a statement distancing the hotel from the planned news conference, scheduled to take place at the Bogoria room.
He said the management would not allow such a function, and added: "Laico Regency is a law-abiding institution and does not condone any smear campaigns."
He said the booking for the Press conference had been made by Mr Peter Mbae, editor-in-chief of The Eagle Christian magazine.
Mr Mbae founded the newspaper and has played an active role in religious organisations. Posters that were announcing the news conference were quickly pulled down at the hotel.
Kenya features prominently in Dr Corsi's book, The Obama Nation, which has been seen primarily as a vehicle to run a smear campaign against Mr Obama.
Dr Corsi states early in the book that Kenya will play a key part in his account because "Barack Obama himself tells us that Kenya is an important part of who he is, even today."
But the book has been widely criticised for containing many inaccuracies and distortions.
Relevant Links
When it was released, Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor said: "Jerome Corsi is a discredited liar who is peddling another piece of garbage to continue the Bush-Cheney politics he helped perpetuate four years ago."
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Read comments. Write your own.
Where do you stand on this issue? Mr. You seem to be equivocating for both sides on one hand and both blaming both sides on the other. Considering the fact that smear politics cost Americans a free and fair election not too long ago, this sick and useless,Dr? Corsi is lucky to come out of Kenya alive. can you imagine how many people world wide have lot their lies because of the acts of the present administration? Can you imagine the fiscal damage that Americans have suffered due to the present administration?
I am standing on principle here. We all cherish freedom of expression. People died for it here in kenya remember. So i think this writer is right to author what "rubbish" he has got. It might be uncouth to us but it is sweet music to others (republicans). But the moment we embraced freedom of speech we lost the right to judge what is right or long. I have ny reasons that i would want Obama to win this election, They might be different from americans or even yours to say the least they are very selfish reasons. What offends… [Read Full Text]
The author is lair! Let's get that straight from the start. He entered the country under false pretenses. Then like many in the right-wing he uses christanity as a front for a platform to speak aganist a man he has probably never met. The person who was helping him was equally low-down. He should get the facts. The right-wing is running sacred they are being exposed. Thank GOD for Barack Obama! Barack is way ahead of his time, the old establishment will be slowly changed by new and informed and enlightened people. Out with the old and in with the… [Read Full Text]
I have read Obama's book, "Dreams of My Father" (as well as well as "Audacity of Hope". I then read Dr. Corsi's book "Obama Nation". Then I read Obama's campaign response to the book. Finally, I read Dr. Corsi response to the response where he admitted errors (mostly minor)that he would correct in the next priting of his book. He, also, showed the many descrepancies that were not countered. Dr. Corsi has kept things factual without the name calling. Obama's campaign now has a history of bad mouthing and in some cases legally threatening those the are exposing the truth… [Read Full Text]
Which Obama are you talking about? Be careful what you say because you may end up annoying most of us. Dont you know the opposite of Obama? Are you Ok? What is your problem? Are you a Repugnant(meaning Republican)? Which Black community are you talking about? Do you know that I am a black man too? You have just spoilt my day. Simply get out of this forum. Donot start what you cannot handle.
Phillip Owi is a prime example of what John A. was talking about... Obama isn't the Messiah so there's no need for you to get so defensive. There are going to be things in his past that are going to annoy you -- your ignorance of those things doesn't mean they any less true.
Which Obama are you talking about? Be careful what you say because you may end up annoying most of us. Dont you know the opposite of Obama? Are you Ok? What is your problem? Are you a Repugnant(meaning Republican)? Which Black community are you talking about? Do you know that I am a black man too? You have just spoilt my day. Simply get out of this forum. Donot start what you cannot handle.
i thanks the kenyan authorities 4 their sweep respond to mr corsi ill-intention n racist behavour,not only against mr obama bt against d whole decent human being.no democratic n decent country should condon his immperial barbaric behavour.TO BE HELL WTH U N YOUR IMMPERIAL MENTOR EG BUSH N CO-REPUBLICAN,4 THEIR SMEAR SCANDALOSE N BLANTAN LIARS.THE DECENT HUMAN BEING LL NT ACCEPT U AGAIN IN OUR MIST N CERTAINLY U LL PAY D PRICE 4 IT.
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"I will die diffending your right to say what you have to say although i might not agree with what you are saying". Wether he was spreading lies or not kicking him out was uncalled for. In fact 3/4s of what he is alleging is true. Why should america discreminate against muslims? Does one loose is rights as a human being just because he is a muslim? And for Kenya government what did you hope to get for trying to protect obama?