Nairobi: US President Barack Obama left Kenya on Sunday afternoon after a three-day visit, his first as president to the country of his father's birth.

Obama left Kenya for Ethiopia, the second stop of his tour, where he will attend bilateral meetings with Ethiopian and African Union leaders, Xinhua reported.

During his visit, the US president opened the 6th Global Entrepreneurship Summit, and held bilateral talks with Kenyan officials.

In his speech on Sunday to Kenyans, Obama praised the country for its regional leadership and said it was headed for a bigger global role.

"Kenya's future is filled with hope. You are poised for a bigger role in the world," he said.

Obama said the US government was grateful for the role Kenya has played in the African Union Mission in Somalia that was stabilizing the Horn of Africa country.

He said the US will stand by Kenya in combating the threat posed by terrorists.

(IANS)