The then young rising star of Kenyan politics was a darling to the media and political elite in America including the civil rights movement leaders Martin Luther King and the lawyer Thurgold Marshall amongst others. It was in the same year that the Kenyan parliament under Kenyatta had rejected a bill that would have allowed African Americans in the 60's to have automatic citizenship to Kenya if they so chose to migrate back to Africa.This was the case in Ghana where African Americans got automatic Ghanian citizenship once they steeped foot in Ghana.

Mboya had come to give a lecture in Harlem and was promptly asked about his opinion on the separatist idea of an all  black state within America to which Mboya declined to support the idea to the consternation of the black power civil rights activists. Mboya insisted that this was not the way foward for Black America rather complete integration within the white corridors of power should be the goal. This fell on deaf years and they booed and heckled him and embarrased he had to cut short his speech and leave.

40 odd years later the MLK dream has come true. It has been remarked that MLK believed in  visionS, while Mboya believed in perseverance for the common good. Well both these gentlmen were right because through vison and perseverence the product is the 44th president of the United States , President Barack Obama.

 may their souls rest in peace, this vision has come true in ways that i doubt he could never imagine.I am sure they are smiling down on us on this day.