The change was evident immediately after the man whose roots are in the village became the leader of the world’s most powerful nation, the United States of America.

   Kenya Power and Lighting Company workers connect the village of Kogelo to the mains on Thursday

   The President-Elects First Press Conference, Friday

Talking to Mr Barack Obama, according to his brother and family spokesperson, Mr Malik Abong’o was an ordinary affair before Thursday.

Everyone’s lips

“We spoke last night, he told us he was doing great. He was happy that we are fine. We congratulated him and wished him well in the new challenges that come with the presidency,” said the first born son of the Obama family.

Although grandmother Sarah Onyango Obama did not speak to the media on Thursday, all she could say to visitors who had come to congratulate her was “Nyasaye duong” (God is great).

And despite the rainy day and the muddy paths, the once sleepy village hosted thousands of visitors on Thursday, driven by a curiosity to see the roots of the man whose name is on everyone’s lips.

The world spotlight is firmly on the hitherto sleepy village because President-elect Obama’s late father, Mr Barack Obama Snr, was born here.

According to Luo customs, a child belongs to the father, hence the strong bonds of kinship to the American president-elect in Western Kenya.

A second bull and several goats and sheep were slaughtered on Thursday as celebrations entered the third night.

Bearing gifts

And one of Prime Minister Raila Odinga aides, Mr Samuel Aduol delivered five bulls from his boss with a congratulatory message that he (the PM) would be visiting soon.

Busloads of students and curious visitors from as far as Tanzania and Uganda drove to the village, with some bearing gifts for the family.

American nationals in Kenya also thronged the home in what they described as an encounter with the roots of the man who now holds the world’s destiny in his hands.

Although the Obama family said on Thursday that they would not like to be treated differently, the signs point to the fact that they are no longer simple villagers.

“We can no longer account for who is who in the home — people danced the night away and today’s holiday gave many an opportunity to come to the home,” said Mr Abong’o.

Before Wednesday, the road leading to the homestead was a bumpy path that was a driver’s nightmare whenever it rained. But by Thursday, it had miraculously been cleared and levelled.

Fresh coat of paint

Kenya Power and Lighting Company was expected to have connected electricity by Thursday night. This is a complete contrast to the situation when Mr Obama visited three years ago.

Then, Mama Sarah lived in a semi-permanent house which has since been rebuilt and is sparkling from a fresh coat of paint.

The compound, which was surrounded with indigenous shrubs, has since been fenced and boasts a police post manned 24 hours a day by eight officers.

The police were deployed to the home after thieves tried to steal the family’s solar panel.

Siaya District Commissioner Boaz Cherutich on Thursday said that security had been beefed up to cope with the influx of visitors.

The main road passing through the village to Bondo town, which was until last week no more than a dusty and bumpy path, has undergone major repairs in what Mr Abong’o last week said was just but a sign of things to come.

Not shed light

The family draws water from a well at the corner of the homestead but in the new scheme of things, this is likely to be a thing of the past.

The nearby Nyang’mo Kogelo secondary school acquired the name Senator Obama Secondary School soon after Mr Obama was elected to the US senate.

School officials could not shed light on whether the name would be changing to President Barack Obama High School.

The village has suddenly become the most well known in the Western Kenya region, if not in the world, as visitors come from near and far to see the home and the people from whose lineage came the first African-American president.

References:

1. Take a Bow, America — We still have two wars to deal with and a severe economic crisis. But we should not lose sight of the profound significance of this week.

Popularity: 2% [?]

People carry an U.S. flag as they celebrate U.S. President-elect Senator Barack Obama’s historic White House victory in Nairobi’s Kibera slum on Wednesday. Kenyans in Obama’s ancestral homeland sang and danced with joy on Wednesday as the Illinois senator they see as one of their own became the first black U.S. president.

Kenyan relatives of U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama celebrate his victory in Nyangoma Kogelo village, 430 km (267 miles) west of Kenya’s capital Nairobi on Wednesday.

   [Enlarge]

NYANGOMA KOGELO, KENYA Some of Senator Barack Obama’s Kenyan relatives — from left to right, Said Obama, Mama Sarah and Auma Obama — met with reporters on Wednesday to talk about Mr. Obama’s victory.

James brown,say it loud I’m black and I’m proud

Mock U.S polls in Kisumu, Kenya

Obama victory celebrations in Kisumu, Kenya

Victory Celebrations in Kogelo, Kenya

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki declares public holiday

Popularity: 3% [?]

ReTHUGliTOM Dinesh D’Souza is attempting to embarrass Mr Obama by soliciting donations to a “Compassion Fund” for the senator’s half-brother, George Onyango Obama, who lives in Nairobi’s Huruma estate.

By KEVIN J KELLEY in New York and ERIC OLOO in Kisumu, Kenya

More mud is being flung to discredit US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, even as robbers raided his grandmother’s home in Siaya.

Prominent US conservative Dinesh D’Souza is attempting to embarrass Mr Obama by soliciting donations to a “Compassion Fund” for the senator’s half-brother who lives in Nairobi’s Huruma estate.

The writer, a supporter of Republican candidate John McCain, told the Nation on Tuesday that the fund-raising was meant part to highlight Sen Obama’s “hypocrisy.”

“The Democratic candidate has been “harping on the theme of helping the underprivileged while doing nothing to help his half-brother,” Mr D’Souza said.

George Onyango Obama, a 26-year-old son of Barack Obama Snr, attends college in Nairobi, and has been at the centre of Western media.

On Wednesday, Sen Obama’s relatives in Kenya rubbished the fund, saying it was motivated by malice.

Mzee Abong’o Obama a paternal uncle to the said the fund was not set up “good faith“. Ms Auma Obama, a sister to the senator said those behind the fund had been ill informed by negative publicity in the Western media.

Ms Auma said that the family was never approached with any offer for help and dismissed any such need.

“We wonder where D’souza got the information about family misery. He should have come down to Huruma to see whether George is suffering,” said Ms Auma, adding that D’souza was only after tarnishing the image of the senator.

But D’esouza said money collected for the “George Obama Compassion Fund” will be forwarded to Sen Obama’s presidential campaign on the condition it be used to help the senator’s half-brother.

He wrote in his blog on Tuesday that he had seeded the fund with $1000 of his own. He urged his readers to send contributions to a post office box in California, saying “even a few thousand dollars would completely transform this man’s life.”

“Let’s foster Obama family values, and give a break to a guy who really needs it,” Mr D’Souza added in his appeal for donations. Because the effort has just begun, Mr D’Souza said, he did not know how much might be raised.

He has never spoken with George Obama, Mr D’Souza said, and does not know whether the senator’s half-brother wants help from American conservatives using him to help elect Sen McCain.

Mr D’Souza said he was unaware whether George Obama even wished to move out of Huruma.

George Obama has previously told reporters that he was content with his situation. He also defended his half-brother from charges of being neglectful of his Kenyan relations.

Mr D’Souza said he had not contributed to organisations that strive to improve housing conditions for thousands of Kenyan slum-dwellers because his “philanthropic activities were focused on India,” where he was born.

But in Siaya, the Obama family is demanding police protection after a robbery attempt. The senator’s grandmother, Mama Sarah Obama, said robbers broke the kitchen door and attempted to remove a solar panel from the roof of the main house.

“I only realised something had gone wrong when I went to make breakfast. I did not hear anything as it was raining”.

Mama Sarah said she saw a ladder against the wall at the back of the main house.

Although the incident appeared like an ordinary robbery, the family was not taking chances with security, given that their grandson was gunning for US presidency, she said.

“I don’t understand the motive of the thieves, since nothing had been stolen from the kitchen,” she said, adding that police needed to provide security to the family But these are just people from the village who know every corner of the home,” she added.

A month ago, the family requested for security from the Siaya police station, but their request fell on deaf ears.

District commissioner

On Wednesday, the Siaya police officer Johnston Okasida and district commissioner Boaz Cherutich visited the home and pledged that a patrol base would be erected at Kogello Village.

It also emerged that the State might indeed consider granting the Mama Sara security, but this can only be done after the provincial security committee led by Nyanza PC Paul Olando recommends it to the commissioner of police.

Deputy spokesman of police Charles Owino said depending on the analysis of the security situation on the ground, the local administration and regular police could consider deploying policemen to the home as they awaited the commissioner’s word.

“A local analysis will have to be done to ascertain the risk and recommend to the commissioner who also in consultation with other offices might approve and assign officers to her,” said the commissioner’s spokesman.

The family was also advised to seek the intervention of the divisional police officer in cases of clear and present danger.

Additional reports by Michael Mugwang’a and Dan Obiero

References:

1. One People’s Project — Dinesh D’Souza is soft-spoken genteel man at times (and we say this because listening to him can make you forget how much of an asshole he is), he is also a major conservative player, and as we see with black and other conservatives of color, frank and often pathetic deconstructions of our racial concerns become the order of the day. D’Souza is best known for this, courtesy of a 1995 book called the End of Racism: Principles for a Multiracial Society, which was so controversial, even black conservatives took offense to it.

2. Debunking Dinesh D’Souza’s “The End of Racism”

3. From HellBlazer.com — Dinesh D’Souza’s stinky loaf entitled Two Cheers for Colonialism provides a really great sniff test for this point of view. After reading this article, I had the distinct impression that D’Souza is nothing more than an Uncle Tom. A toady for the ruling class.

4. Dinesh D’Souza’s right-wing postings — | TownHall.com | Aol.com |

Popularity: 10% [?]

US Ambassador, Mr Michael Ranneberger, said Obama’s win would have tremendous impact on Kenya.

Kenyans have welcomed Senator Barack Obama’s nomination as the Democratic Party candidate for the November US presidential elections.

Proud Grandma: Mama Sarah Obama and one of her grandsons, Mr. Wycliffe Omondi read The Standard at her Kogelo village home, Siaya District, Kenya on Thursday. Mama Sarah is the grandmother of Senator Barack Obama. Picture by Titus Munala.

Congratulatory messages continued to pour to The Standard newsroom from Kisumu, Nairobi, Mombasa, Garissa and even Moyale, with Kenyans wishing the Illinois senator the ultimate victory in the November election.

President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga were not left behind. In a statement from Arusha, President Kibaki congratulated Obama, saying the victory was a manifestation of the faith and confidence the Democratic membership had in his leadership.

On his part, Prime Minister Raila Odinga said Obama’s victory was a momentous occasion in history.

“Barack Obama’s success will inspire us all to break the shackles of ethnic preoccupations in determining political leadership,” Raila said in a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Salim Lone.

Obama’s grandmother, Mama Sarah, 86, led villagers of Alego Kogelo, Siaya, where the senator’s father — Barack Obama Senior — was born, in thanking American voters for no,inating her grandchild.

At the home of Obama’s father, relatives, neighbours and students celebrated the triumph, whose campaign now promises to capture the psyche of Kenya in the run up to the presidential elections.

Obama’s Kenyan Kin Celebrate

   Barack Obama speaks to residents of Nairobi’s Kibera area,
   Kenya, in August 2006.

   Obama and Kenyan Grandmother (Mama Sarah)… Earlier Visit

   Kenya Flag

   Obama and Kenyan Relatives … Earlier Visit

Mama Sarah spent most of on Wednesday morning talking on the telephone to her relatives in America, UK and South Africa about Obama’s victory against Mrs. Hillary Clinton in the hotly contested primaries.

“I will travel to America to witness his swearing in because I know he will win. But I will not stay in the country for long,” she said.

Vice-President, Mr Kalonzo Musyoka, hailed the victory as historic, saying Obama had won the nomination with dignity.

“Indeed, he may make history as the first American president with African roots,” said Kalonzo in Nairobi.

US Ambassador, Mr Michael Ranneberger, said Obama’s win would have tremendous impact on Kenya.

“Over 350,000 Kenyans live in the US, with another 7,000 traveling there annually, which explains the great interest in the race,” Ranneberger said.

Back at Obama’s father’s home in Siaya, residents basked in international glare as CNN led other international media teams in airing to the world live the joy of the village.

   Barack Obama Jr. / Barack Obama Sr.
CNN was live at Alego Kogelo at 10am, showing villagers holding bottles of ‘Senator’ beer to celebrate the Illinois Senator’s win.

Journalists, armed with sophisticated satellite equipment, began arriving at the sleepy village from as early as 6am on Wednesday.

Many installed their equipment at the home as they waited for permission from the family to interview the senator’s grandmother.

Other international media at the home included BBC, Reuters and Al Jazeera.

However, the media had to wait for more than two hours before they could get access to Mama Sarah, who has become the biggest local celebrity.

The number of people claiming to be related to Obama also increased as the news of his victory filtered into Nyanza.

More ‘relatives’ show up

Mr. Tom Ombaka, a Kisumu businessman, said: “Everyone now claims he or she is a cousin of the senator. I have met more than ten people this morning who tell me they are Obama’s blood relations.”

Amid song and dance, Mama Sarah announced she was preparing for an epic journey to America to witness the swearing in ceremony of her grandson as the country’s first black president.

She said: “I will go there to witness the swearing in ceremony, and to pray for him, his family and the people of America for demonstrating unity and love beyond race and colour by picking a black person to lead them.”

She went on: “I love Africa. I am too old now and America is too cold for me to settle. So I will only be visiting once in a while if I am still alive by God’s will.

“I was highly elated when his sister, Rita Auma Obama, in South Africa phoned me to break the news. I said glory be to God,” she said, beaming with joy as she greeted the journalists.

She quipped: “I know what brings you here this early. But don’t worry, feel welcome. I will attend to your needs,” she said as she ushered in visitors to her compound.

“I had prophesied that Obama would win and my dream has partially come true. I am sure he will also win the final contest, God willing. This is my honest and humble prayers,” she said.

She said of her grandson: “His father loved people, development and education. These are the traits that Obama inherited and I can assure you he will go far.”

At the nearby Senator Barack Obama-Kogello Secondary School, which neighbours Mama Sarah’s home, students danced, sang and shouted: “Obama Juu! Obama Juu!”

The school principal, Ms Yunita Obiero, said she announced the good news to the students at assembly in the morning after hearing of Obama’s victory on BBC’s Swahili Service radio.

In Nairobi, ODM congratulated Obama for clinching the Democratic presidential nominations. Secretary-General, Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o, said the primaries were free and fair and Obama won convincingly.

“His global leadership is cut out for him,” said Nyong’o, who is also the Medical Services minister.

Win-win situation

Lands minister, Mr. James Orengo, said the Obama victory was a win-win situation for Kenya and US. “The US electoral process offers a rare opportunity for men and women of good character. Any Kenyan should, therefore, be able to win nomination locally irrespective of gender, tribe, race or religion,” Orengo said.

Previous Visit To Kenya

In Mombasa, the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya Organising Secretary, Sheikh Mohamed Khalifa, urged Obama to stick to his manifesto which has earned him wide support and to steer away from US President George W’ Bush’s “confrontational policies”.

“Apart from being close to Africa, we expect Obama to move away from confrontational policies and unite the US and the rest of the world if he finally wins the presidency,” Khalifa said.

ODM-Kenya nominated MP, Ms Shakila Abdalla, said Obama’s victory was an achievement for Kenyans and Africa.

“Because Obama has roots in Kenya, we expect the US and Kenya to forge close ties. We are praying for his victory in the presidential poll,” Shakila said.

And North Eastern Province on Wednesday took delight in Obama’s victory. The predominantly Muslim province came to the limelight during the primaries early this year when Obama’s rival, Mrs Hillary Clinton’s campaign team circulated pictures on the Internet of Obama in Somali traditional attire taken in Wajir.

An elder, Mr Mohammed Hassan Mumin, who was photographed dressing Obama during the senator’s visit to Wajir, said they were happy that Obama was a step away from the presidency.

Mr Maalim Hussein, a teacher at a Quranic school in Garissa, said: “He was a victim of smear campaigns from the Clintons for embracing our attire, but we kept praying for his success and we are celebrating today.”

He added: “We also pray that he becomes the next US president so that he can help our impoverished province and Africa.”

Mr Christopher Njoroge, who lives in Washington, Seattle, said on the telephone: “This is great victory. It is victory for all America that wants real change.”

And from Des Moines, Iowa, Ms Nancy Mwirotsi, a key Obama supporter and mobiliser in a State that gave Obama his first victory, shed tears.

“For me, Obama’s victory is not just about himself and his family, it is about many young Kenyans here who look up to him as their role model,” she said.

Support Senator Obama, visit BarackObama.com

Popularity: 31% [?]