Modi engages the audience in Kenya.
By Sreekanth A. Nair
The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is known as a public speech mastermind who knows how to get the attention of the audience irrespective of the nature and demography of the attendees. His speeches at Madison Square Garden in 2014 and recent speech in the US Congress has been well-praised for the spirit he invoked. This time, Modi’s speech at the University of Nairobi on Monday underscores his genius.
Addressing the students at the University of Nairobi was one of the programs in the itinerary of Modi who is on a four-nation tour in Africa. Addressing the students and teachers at the University, Modi appraised the contributions of a handful of Kenyan personalities who have marked their identities in the world scenario.
“I am happy to be here in energy filled surroundings. To you, the passionate gen-next of Kenya, I bring the warm friendship of over 800 million youth of India. When I see your young, intelligent, eager faces I know why generations of political leaders, scientists, social activists have passed through the doors of this seat of learning,” Modi told the students while starting his speech.
Then the Prime Minister mentioned the names of well-known Kenyan personalities like Hollywood actress Lupita Nyong’o, environmental activist Wangari Maathai and also the success story of M-Pesa, a mobile-phone based money transfer service that found successful all over the world.
“Kenya’s environmental activist Wangari Maathai was the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. She was a product of this university. Lupita Nyong’o, of Kenyan origin, is the first African to win an Oscar. And no prizes for guessing that Kenyan runners dominate marathons around the world,” Modi said.
Acknowledging the popularity of M-Pesa, Modi said: “It pioneered and led the growth of mobile money services globally.”
Modi visited Kenya for the final leg of his four-nation tour. He visited South Africa, Mozambique, and Tanzania earlier.