I don't know a lot about Barak Obama, but from the article (here) on his upcoming trip to Kenya and other African countries, I like what I see. I'm sure there's a lot of things in him I would disagree with as well, as with most politicians, but these points resonate with me:

"One of the messages I’m going to send is that, ultimately, Africa is responsible for helping itself,'' Mr Obama said in an interview yesterday.

I believe that while the foreign community can and should help with the problems in Africa, ultimately it will be up to Africa to make the changes necessary to bring itself into the 21st century.

Earlier this year, Mr Obama attached an amendment to a pending Bill that would provide up to $52 million (Sh3.7 billion) to the Congo while letting President George W. Bush withdraw the assistance if the country makes insufficient progress toward democracy.

I've quoted Sachs here many times, and in Belgium I talked with a man who claimed to be a good friend of "Jeffrey," but one of the things I like most about his book is that if countries are not willing to take steps to end corruption and work for the good of their people, then the West has the right, the mandate, to drop its funding and support. Let's give where the work will be used properly.

He also plans to talk about the responsibility of Africans to take action against "a lack of basic rule of law and accountability that has hampered the ability of countries with enormous natural resources,'' according to an earlier interview. (AP)

Every day I was in Kenya the front page of the Daily Nation centered around corruption in the highest levels of government and how much that cost the people. They need to get beyond that. Supposedly this government is doing better, but its hard to undo what 27 years of corrupt rule built up. It'll be interesting to watch how the Kenyans react as time goes on, it is very easy to go along with the tide, but it'll start with one who says no to corruption and sets the standard while the domino effect takes place. They can then shame those who are still partaking and run the nation as it deserves to be run.