Barack Obam

In some of his first commentary on the budding race to replace him, Obama accused the candidates of violating a time-honored American tradition of not playing "fast and loose" on topics of grave concern like foreign policy. 

And he said that regardless of which party wins the White House, he wants to ensure he's turning over the keys to someone capable of seriousness and honesty.

Obama says eliminating multiple legs of travel to get from one place to the other would be a boon for business and tourism.

Kenya's $1 billion tourism industry has suffered in the wake of mass assaults carried out in recent years by the al-Shabab extremist group, which is based across the border in Somalia.

"Africa is one of the fastest growing regions of the world," Obama said. "People are being lifted out of poverty."

Obama's visit to Kenya — the first by a sitting U.S. president — has been highly anticipated in a nation that views him as a local son. The president's late father was born in Kenya and many family members still live here, including his elderly step-grandmother.

"This is personal for me," Obama said. "There's a reason why my name is Barack Hussein Obama."