How Kenyan MP Became Friends With Obama

Most Kenyans know Julius Musili Mawathe as the Embakasi South MP, a seasoned legislator with a background in business administration. But few know that, long before he entered politics, Mawathe was living and studying in the United States (US), where he struck up a friendship with none other than former President Barack Obama. 

Mawathe in Texas

Between 2001 and 2006, Mawathe pursued a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at the University of Texas, Dallas. During that time, he worked in management and technical roles within the Dallas County community college system, sharpening skills that would later prove valuable in public service.

Volunteering for 'Yes We Can' Campaign

In 2006, Obama’s star was rising in the U.S., and Mawathe was drawn into the wave of political enthusiasm. He recalls joining campaign volunteer work that took him across several states.

“In 2006, nikawa volunteer kusaidia Obama; Yes We Can, tukazunguka naye Arkansas, Kansas, Dallas, Houston, na Austin," he said during a past interview. 

It was in Austin, Texas, that Mawathe says the connection with Obama grew beyond politics.

“Austin ndiyo tulikua marafiki, sababu nilikaa Austin siku tatu. Kila jioni tulikuwa na Obama na PA wake, ambaye wakati huo aliitwa Mark. Tulibakia huko watu wanne na tukafanya urafiki," Mwathe narrated.

The evenings in Austin were less about speeches and more about conversation, laughter, and building rapport. It was during those three days, Mawathe says, that the future U.S. president became more than just a public figure; he became a friend.

When Mawathe returned to Kenya, he brought with him more than academic qualifications. His experiences in the U.S., from the classroom to the campaign trail, shaped his worldview and leadership style. 

It is, however, not clear if the friendship persisted beyond the campaign trail and if the two kept in touch after Obama won and became President.

Mawathe’s tale is a reminder that sometimes, the most remarkable friendships are forged far from home, in places and moments that no one could have predicted, like three evenings in Austin, Texas, with a man who would soon become the most powerful leader in the world.

Barack Hussein Obama II was born on August 4, 1961, in Honolulu, Hawaii. His father, Barack Obama Sr., was from Kenya, and his mother, Ann Dunham, was from Kansas, USA. Obama studied at Columbia University and later earned a law degree from Harvard Law School, where he became the first Black president of the Harvard Law Review.

He began his political career as a community organizer in Chicago, then served as an Illinois state senator (1997–2004). In 2004, he gained national attention after delivering the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention. That same year, he was elected to the U.S. Senate representing Illinois.

Obama made history in 2008 when he was elected the 44th President of the United States, becoming the first African American to hold the office. He served two terms (2009–2017).