US President-Elect Barack Obama's grandmother says she wants
to travel to the United States to witness the inauguration of her grandson on
January 20, 2009. The 84-year-old Sarah says she will bring with her Obama's
favorite food, chapatti, a traditional Kenyan pastry. Although Sarah is Obama's
step grandmother, the president-elect reportedly treats her like his natural
grandmother. Meanwhile Kenyans are still celebrating after the unity government
declared yesterday (Thursday) a national holiday in celebration of
President-Elect Obama's victory in the US general election. The neighbors of
Grandmother Sarah reportedly offered 10 bulls for a feast to celebrate Obama's
victory.
Kabiru
Kinyanjui is a Kenyan political science professor. He tells reporter Peter
Clottey from the capital, Nairobi that the youth are also in support of
Grandmother Sarah attending President-elect Obama's inauguration.
"This is what has been
reported and a lot of people are supportive of her coming to be there to
witness her grandson there being inaugurated as the first black president of
the United States. Many Kenyans support this and would like to see her there to
bless her grandson," Kinyanjui noted.
He said Kenyans are still
celebrating the victory of US President-elect Barack Obama.
"This
has been a continuing celebration and we had a national day, which was
dedicated to celebrate the outcome of the American election and to celebrate
the day of the President-elect Barack Obama. People have been celebrating they
have been very positive thing. For instance children who have been born, some
are being called Obama and girl children are being called Michelle. So, this is
a continuous celebration and it would linger for a long time in the memory of
Kenyans, especially when we meet quite a number of children later who would be
called Obama or Michelle," he said.
Kinyanjui said Kenya's unity
government declared Thursday as a national holiday as part of Obama's election
as President of the United States.
"Thursday was a public
holiday so we have been celebrating literally for two days. So, this is a great
event and there is music and there is the usual Kenyan way of celebrating by
slaughtering animals and calling their neighbors to enjoy together and
celebrate this great and historical event," Kinyanjui pointed out.
He said the Kenyan youths
are demanding a change in leadership to usher in younger people in government.
"One thing we have noticed
is that the young people have started saying that it is time the older
generation of politicians in Kenya retire so that the Obama generation can take
over leadership here and emulate from the president-elect and give hope to the
people of Kenya," he said.
Kinyanjui said Kenya's older
leadership defended itself against calls to step down.
"The old guards have been
cautious, but they have been keen to point out because of the investment in
education very early on at the beginning of independence that Obama senior came
to America in search of education and that is how the connection with the
president-elect has come. So, they do feel they also can claim it is their
vision to educate somebody and through that education this relationship has
emerged. So, they do feel connected that way," Kinyanjui noted.
Africans
in general have been rooting for Obama from the very moment he announced his
candidacy for president. The election victory of the son of a Kenyan father is
still being celebrated and savored all over the continent.