- Title: KENYA: Kenyans swell with pride over Obama win
- Date: 4th June 2008
- Summary: (BN09) NAIROBI, KENYA (JUNE 4, 2008) (REUTERS) NEWSPAPERS ON SALE ON STREET MAN READING NEWSPAPER MORE NEWSPAPERS NEWSPAPER HEADLINE READING "OBAMA MAKES HISTORY"
- Embargoed: 19th June 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Kenya
- Country: Kenya
- Topics: International Relations,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVA2RVY7KXAKV54QW9MN9B8FMBSJ
- Story Text: As Democrat Barack Obama declares victory in the hard-fought race for the Democratic nomination, Kenyans express their sense of pride and concern for the presidential candidate whom they revere and consider one of their own.
Democrat Barack Obama declared victory on Tuesday (June 4) in the hard-fought race for the Democratic nomination and said the country faced a defining moment in the November presidential election against Republican John McCain.
Obama is seeking to become the first black U.S. president.
He gained enough delegates to win the bruising battle for the Democratic nomination against New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, who sought to be the first woman U.S. president.
Born in Hawaii to a white American mother and Kenyan father, Obama is revered by many Kenyans as one of their own.
On the streets of Kenya's capital Nairobi, most people were proud that Obama had come this far but some feel America would not freely welcome him to the White House.
"I am praying for him, let him be the first African president of the United States, and being a Kenyan I am very proud of him, all Kenyans should make an effort to do that," said Rosina Ladeck a resident of Nairobi.
"I don't think he will win because he is black, looking at the history of America I don't think they are ready to have a black man at this point in time, maybe they will give the other candidate a chance," said another Nairobi resident, Dido Guyatu.
Many Africans see Obama's victory as a win for Africa and the expectations are high for what Obama can do for the continent.
"It is now possible for him to win the elections, because most of the people who voted for him were white and the black people there are not that many. If he has won the nomination it shows that he has the support and will continue to win. I would be very happy if he wins the elections because then it will show that a black man can do the job just as well as a white man," said John Mwangangi.
The senator from Illinois hails from Kogelo village in the west of Kenya.
Kogelo, which boasts the Senator Obama Primary School, lies 100 km (60 miles) northwest of Kisumu, a town by Lake Victoria.
On a visit to Kenya in 2006, he was received like royalty by thousands of cheering well-wishers.
Addressing concerns that the race has divided some Democrats, Obama said it was time for the party to unite to defeat McCain saying he is little different from unpopular President George W. Bush. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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