Africa savours Obama's White House triumph

Barack Obama’s Kenyan family erupted in cheers today, singing “We are going to the White House!” as their relative became the first African-American to be elected US president.

In the western village of Kogelo, where the president-elect’s late father was born, police had to tighten security to prevent hordes of media and others from entering the rural homestead of Mr Obama’s step-grandmother, Sarah.

But the elderly woman and several other relatives came outside today to cheer for Mr Obama in a country where the Democrat is seen as a “son of the soil”.

They cheered, danced and sang in the Luo language before heading back inside the compound.

Kenya’s President Mwai Kibaki declared a public holiday tomorrow in honour of Mr Obama’s election victory.

Across Africa – where Mr Obama is wildly popular – people stayed up all night or woke before dawn to watch the US election results roll in.

In the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, people chanted “Obama! Obama!” as the results were announced on television.

“He’s in!” said Rachel Ndimu, 23, a business student who joined hundreds of others at the residence of the US ambassador for an election party that began at 5am.

“I think this is awesome, and the whole world is backing him.”

Many people hope an Obama presidency will help this vast continent, the poorest in the world. Some are looking for more US aid to Africa, others simply bask in the glory of a successful black politician with African roots.

Mr Obama was born in Hawaii, where he spent most of his childhood reared by his mother, a white American from Kansas. He barely knew his late father.

But that has not stopped “Obamamania” from sweeping the continent, and particularly Kenya, where his picture adorns billboards and minibuses.

Hundreds of chanting people marched through the streets of Kibera shantytown, one of Africa’s largest slums, cheering Mr Obama’s win.

Samuel Ouma, 36, said Mr Obama’s victory alleviated some of the pain suffered in December after Kenya’s disastrous presidential election, which unleashed weeks of violence here.

“We finally have got the stolen election,” he said.

His friend, Kennedy Obdiero, added: “God has rewarded us triple-fold.”

Gibson Gaitho, 14, said he does not believe an Obama presidency will change his life much, but he said he is inspired by the rise of a man with Kenyan roots.

“As Kenyans we feel proud,” said Mr Gaitho, whose teachers at Mangu High School in Thika brought the students to watch the results at the ambassador’s residence in Nairobi before heading back to class on a school bus later today.

“But we know Obama will be working for the United States,” said Mr Gaitho, who was wearing his red-and-blue school uniform.