TRANSITION | Forming the next government
10 November 2008
Kenyans Celebrate Barack Obama as One of Their Own
Thousands gather to watch American democratic process unfold
Nairobi, Kenya — After weeks of news coverage and popular conversation that bordered on obsession about the Barack Obama phenomenon, Kenyans greeted the long-hoped-for election of Obama to be the 44th president of the United States with intense rejoicing and high expectations, not only for America but for themselves. In towns across Kenya, thousands took to the street for celebrations that were a far cry from the violence that greeted their own presidential election nearly a year ago.
Many people throughout the world celebrated Obama’s victory as a significant moment in U.S. history, but perhaps no country was as excited for Obama as Kenya. The home country of Obama’s father has followed the Illinois senator’s campaign closely, viewing him as one of its own.
At about 7 a.m. local time November 5, with the first rays of dawn just lighting the sky over Nairobi, time stood still in Kenya as the entire country watched televisions or listened to radios and heard that several of the United States’ battleground states had indeed gone to Kenya’s favorite son, securing Obama enough Electoral College votes to become the next U.S. president.
With the rejoicing, some of which was heard in the tents that covered the lawn of the American ambassador’s residence in Nairobi and which was carried live by Kenya’s many TV and radio stations, one would have believed Obama had been elected president of Kenya.
The president of Kenya, Mwai Kibaki, was among the first to offer Obama his congratulations. He declared November 6 a holiday in honor of the historic elevation of this son of Kenya. Kenya Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka stopped by the U.S. Embassy at the end of the morning to deliver the congratulations of the government of Kenya.
U.S. Ambassador Michael Ranneberger had invited more than 2,500 Kenyans to join embassy staff and American citizens to monitor the election results at his residence starting at 5 a.m. School buses carrying more than 1,000 high school and university students began arriving at 4:45 a.m. — no one wanted to miss a minute of the election returns as the polls closed in the United States. Politicians, officials, business people and especially students intensely watched the unfolding drama as votes were counted.
After Republican John McCain’s concession speech and Obama’s acceptance speech, Ranneberger addressed the boisterous crowd, citing the rigor of the contest, the focus on issues over personality, the diversity of the electorate and the upcoming peaceful transition of power. He also said the morning's events would only deepen the continuing U.S.-Kenyan partnership.
A Kenyan official told the group that people in his country had learned from the American election that they must campaign not only about their own tribe but all tribes, as Obama and McCain had shown their willingness to talk to all Americans during their hard-fought, but peaceful, campaign.
In Kenya, news outlets, government sources and people on street corners repeated that America had proven it was a country of its ideals, that every man or woman could truly become president of the United States and that the transition from one party to another did not involve any form of violence. In the American elections, Kenyans seem to see a reflection on their own still-nascent democracy.
As one commentator put it, within the cheers for Obama was the longing for Kenya’s dawn. Other comments reiterated the need for openness and inclusion in politics but also the need to tackle the issues of corruption, tribalism and institutional reform so Kenyans can redeem their hope in democracy.
Thomas J. Dowling is the counselor for public affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi.
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