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The Kenyan Somali man who nearly destroyed Obama’s political career

The regalia was interpreted by his 2006 political opponent Hilary Clinton as representing extremism associated with terror groups such as Al-Qaeda.

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Obama’s images of the 2006 occasion in Wajir County, Kenya were later used by Mr Obama’s opponents to depict him as a radical Muslim whose name was similar to that of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin laden.

In 2006 when he was Illinois Senator, Mr Mumin dressed him in traditional attire that comprised a Somali head dress and robe, Barki (traditional pillow) and a walking stick. He (Mr Mumin) ran into problems with the leaders of Wajir, who demanded an apology from the US Government.

And now, Mr Mumin, who spearheaded a peace deal between waring Degodia and Ogaden communities in present Wajir County in 1993, is demanding a meeting with Obama, who landed in the country on Sunday afternoon.

“I blessed Mr Obama when he was a senator and he ended up ruling America for two terms. I now want to bless him to be the leader of peace in global hotspots such as Syria, Palestine, Afghanistan, South Sudan and Somalia,” he told Nation in an interview.

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