Nairobi, Kenya ? Sen. Barack Obama urged Kenyans to take control of their country’s destiny by opposing corruption and ethnic divisions in government during a policy speech Monday at the main university in his father’s homeland.

Obama warned that Kenya and other African nations will never thrive if their citizens cannot count on the government to deliver services fairly, regardless of their tribal background or ability to pay bribes, Obama told about 600 people at the state-run University of Nairobi. The speech was carried live on Kenya’s largest TV station.

“In the end, if the people cannot trust their government to do the job for which it exists – to protect them and to promote their common welfare – all else is lost,” the Illinois Democrat said.

Obama is winding down his trip to Africa, which began Aug. 18 in South Africa. Today, he will visit the world-famous Masai Mara game reserve in southern Kenya, followed by trips to Djibouti and Chad.