Kenyans’ Expectations for Obama Run High

Sarah Childress reports from Kogelo, Kenya. Barack Obama may already be suffering from the curse of lofty expectations here, the village where his father was born and buried. Many of the senator’s relatives still live here. When villagers heard Wednesday morning that Obama had won the American presidency, they snatched up tree boughs and, waving them to whistles and a beating drum, danced down the road to the Obama family homestead. Getty Images From left: The half-brother of U.S. President-elect Barack Obama Said Obama, his grandmother Sarah Obama and his half-sister Auma Obama in Kogelo. “Obama is the king of the world,” they sang. “We are going to the White House.” There was heady talk of jobs and money. A city councilman in nearby Kisumu, Roy Samo, said that if Obama could raise millions to fund an election campaign, he could certainly spare some to develop his father’s homeland. Villagers here said they already have proof that change is on the way. Wednesday morning, ... (link)