Sarah Onyango Obama, President’s Grandma, Kenyan Village Celebrates Obama’s Victory

Sarah Obama, step-grandmother of President Barack Obama, speaks to the media about her reaction to Obama’s re-election, in the garden of her house in the village of Kogelo, western Kenya Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012.
Hundreds of people stayed up through the night on Tuesday and into Wednesday morning to see the man they call “our greatest son” win his historic second term in office.

President Obama’s step-grandmother, Sarah Obama, led the celebrations at her home in the village, Kogelo, and said that God and his “love for all people” took him to victory.

“He has the knowledge to love all people, he doesn’t have the knowledge of division, that is why he has won,” Mrs Obama, 90, said.

“Take the great job that people have given to you and lead them well,” she urged her step-grandson, who visited her when still a Senator in 2006.

“They have shown immense love to have voted for you.”

Obama’s father, a respected Kenyan economist, grew up in Kogelo, and several of his distant relatives still live nearby.

As Mitt Romney conceded defeat a little before 9am Kenya-time on Wednesday, convoys of motorcycle taxis honked their way up and down the village’s main street.

Women danced and old men stood to clap. Two prize bulls were due to be slaughtered for acelebration feast, and schools closed for an unofficial holiday to allow children to join the party.

Since Mr Obama’s 2008 win, the dusty and previously dirt-strewn village, close to Lake Victoria in the west of Kenya’s, has been connected to the national electricity grid and seen new asphalt roads built linking it to the nearest city, Kisumu, 40 miles to the south.

People said yesterday that they hoped a second Obama term would continue to bring good fortune to their village.

“Obama cannot forget us and I’m sure that is why God has chosen him again to lead theAmericans,” said Tobias Otieno, a carpenter in Kogelo.

“He should ensure thatdevelopment trickles down to Kogelo in a good way for poor people like us who are struggling to make ends meet.”

There were tense moments in the early hours of yesterday morning as initial results from the US suggested that Mr Obama was neck-and-neck with Mr Romney.

But as each major swing state fell to the president, cheers and ululations erupted and pastors leading prayers doubled their efforts in support.

“I was very worried about the slim margins of the results,” said James Rajula, 80, chairman of the Kogelo Cultural Committee.

“But he has done it at last. America should be a leading light in the field of democracy. We welcome Obama to Kogelo once again. This is home.”

John Dimo, Kogelo’s witch doctor, who had predicted Obama’s win on Monday, staggered around the village apparently drunk on liquor offered to him to bless the election victory.

“He was definitely going to win, I told you so,” he slurred.