Mama Sarah: No need for early celebrations

By George Olwenya

"No early celebrations please! Let’s keep on praying until it’s all over!" This was the message from Mama Sarah Hussein Obama, as she waited for the results of the US elections.

Mama Sarah, the grandmother to US Democtratic Presidential candidate, Barak Obama spent both Monday and on Tuesday indoors in her house in Alego Kogelo in Siaya District, as police tightened security around her.

She was in jovial mood, but said she was against early celebrations. "You may never know what happens until the final whistle," she said.

In an exclusive interview with this writer, who was the only journalist to enter her compound on Monday evening, Mama Sarah said she has spent most her time praying for grandson’s victory.

no access

Family members and security officials barred the Media from accessing her.

Sarah Obama points at a poster of her grandson, Senator Barack Obama, hanging on the wall of her home. PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD

In the house, Sarah chatted freely with relatives and friends, who are the only people allowed into the home.

With a 21-inch television set in one corner of the house, which is occasionally switched on via solar energy system, the granny says she does not see the need of people celebrating before the results are officially announced.

"I am telling you that after the announcement that Obama has won, I will let you people interview me as much as you want and take photographs the way you like, even if it means taking pictures of my toes one by one", Sarah said as she laughed heartedly lifting one of her legs.

Sarah says journalists should not mind the embargo that has been placed by the family barring them from interviewing her, saying the big day is coming.

"I know they are friends of my grandson, hence they are my visitors when they come here. I will not let them down because for now, the family has decided and I do not want to go against the agreement", she says with a laugh.

During the chat, Sarah says she has been photographed my many journalists from across the world. "This work of journalists is not easy, they come and one would spend with me even two hours and they come one after the other."

friends of my grandson

Last general elections

She says for the last year or so, it has been difficult to visit relatives, because she has to attend to pressmen almost daily.

"I could not ignore them because they are friends of my grandson and I have been struggling to ensure they are satisfied," she said.

Mama Sarah served us a late lunch of ugali and dried boiled fish, accompanied by traditional vegetables (osuga).

Meanwhile, former Kisumu Town West MP Ken Nyagudi cautioned Kenyans against early celebrations of the anticipated win for Senator Barack Obama.

A group of pastors joined the MP in warning the masses, as Obama is poised to be the next US president.

Addressing the pastors from Narok, Naivasha, and Nakuru, who had converged in Nakuru for prayers, Mr Nyagudi reminded people of the outcome of the last General Election, which disappointed many and plunged the country into chaos.

"We should guard ourselves against this kind of excitement. We learnt what it can do to us as a country during the last polls," he said at the Nakuru Metro Church.

The former MP-turned-preacher, who was accompanied by Pastor Mike Brawan of Metro Church-Nakuru, said an Obama win would be a blessing, not only to Kenya, but Africa as well.

"He is our son, so we shall be happy if he wins the election, but we must not get carried away," he said.

The more than 10 pastors said prayers for Obama ahead of the polls, and urged Kenyans to be patient.