WI: Secretary-General Barack Obama

WI Obama had grown up in his father's native Kenya? With his rhetorical skills, is it possible he might have gone on to become Secretary-General of the U.N.?
 
How could that happen? I mean, the only reason his parents met at all is because they met at the University of Hawaii.

I guess it is conceivable they could've stayed together rather than divorcing when Barack Sr got a scholarship to Harvard in OTL, but even then they wouldn't have moved back to Kenya until young Obama was about four years old and even then there's no guarantee they would've stayed together.

Why Secretary-General, specifically?
 
Anything is possible. But I don´t think rhetorical skills are what makes a UN secretary a UN secretary. It´s political connections and diplomatic skills that do.

Also, how would his career be should it have been based on a Kenyan and not American background? The political situation over there is slightly different to say the least.
 
His name is Kofi Annan and he's Ghanaian. Since I doubt they'd pick 2 African secretaries-general in a row this belongs to... alternate future history, I guess.

They did actually, Annan's predecessor as Sec-Gen was Boutrous Boutrous-Ghali, from Egypt. Unless you are using African in the context of race (ie. black).
 
How would Obama develop living in Kenya? I know his father was a senior economist in the Kenyan government. Will he be educated in America? How will his opinions change from RL as he grows up in Kenya? How can he make it to the UNSG? Wouldn’t Prime Minister or President of Kenya be a far more realistic goal?
 
How would Obama develop living in Kenya? I know his father was a senior economist in the Kenyan government. Will he be educated in America? How will his opinions change from RL as he grows up in Kenya? How can he make it to the UNSG? Wouldn’t Prime Minister or President of Kenya be a far more realistic goal?

Although not worthy of an entire TL, it´d be an interesting extra character in an ATL. With a pod somewhere in the 1960s butterfly effect causes Obama´s father to decide to continue his relationship with his mother and bringing them to Kenya. Obama ends up being raised a Kenyan and receives Kenyan citizenship.

"President Barack Obama of Kenya met today with President Hillary Clinton of USA, the two leaders spoke about the situation in Africa and how the economic meltdown has been affecting the continent in general. President Obama pledged Kenyan assistance in Darfur"
 
Although not worthy of an entire TL, it´d be an interesting extra character in an ATL. With a pod somewhere in the 1960s butterfly effect causes Obama´s father to decide to continue his relationship with his mother and bringing them to Kenya. Obama ends up being raised a Kenyan and receives Kenyan citizenship.

"President Barack Obama of Kenya met today with President Hillary Clinton of USA, the two leaders spoke about the situation in Africa and how the economic meltdown has been affecting the continent in general. President Obama pledged Kenyan assistance in Darfur"

You know, it'd be ironic if his rise to power in Kenya was burdened by suspicions that he's actually irreligious and only pretending to be a Muslim. He might decide to emphasize his middle name.
 
You know, it'd be ironic if his rise to power in Kenya was burdened by suspicions that he's actually irreligious and only pretending to be a Muslim. He might decide to emphasize his middle name.

Isn't Kenya a majority-Christian country?

It occurs to me that this idea butterflies away the birth of Obama's half-sister Maya.
 
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