FORMER US president Barack Obama has hailed Kenya’s progress in getting the government and opposition to work together.

Obama, on his first visit to Africa since leaving the White House, praised President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga for co-operating following last year’s disputed presidential election.

Speaking in Kogelo, the rural birthplace of his father, Obama said more needs to be done to face challenges such as corruption.

The former American leader travelled to Kogelo to launch a sports and training centre founded by his half-sister Auma Obama.

Thousands of Kenyans turned up in his ancestral home in Siaya County to see Obama but many could not get into the venue due to high security.

Obama danced to some traditional music with his grandmother Sarah when he visited his father’s ancestral village in the country’s South-western Siaya County.