Kenyans’ wishes for an Obama presidency

By David Ohito

At dawn today, many already knew who will be the president of the United States of America for the next four years is.

The contest, between incumbent Barack Obama and his Republican rival Mitt Romney was the most closely contested poll in 200 years in the world’s most powerful country.

By last night, the US presidential elections had gobbled more than Sh170 billion ($2billion).

This election was important to both Republicans and Democrats. While the former wanted to reaffirm the majority control of the Senate, the Democrats were aiming to make a dent in the numbers.

Kenyans have followed this election with keen interest. And hours before the main voting started yesterday, thousands of them sent goodwill messages to President Obama, whose father was Kenyan.

In their own way, they implored the American voters to cast their votes in favour of Obama.

Here are a few of the comments they shared on social media on this poll that has gripped their minds more than their own General Election which is slated for March 4, 2013: 

You will make it

Benson Mwendwa of Makindu wrote, ‘’I have confidence beyond reasonable doubt that you will make it, Obama. Yes, we can!”

Wilson Chumba said he had “confidence in your leadership and you will always remain an icon among the youth who aspire to become leaders. I wish you all the best and victory in the elections.”

Jayceon Campbell said, “From the word go, I was here giving my support and assured you are going to win again. The work you have done for us, you deserve it, Mr President.....all the best tomorrow. I am waiting for the results...”

Khedira Ibnul Sitari said he was sure of an Obama win. “You will definitely make it again to the White House. We don’t need another George Bush, wars, distractions, killings...”

In wishing Obama the best, Vicente Cliff also tried to explain the president’s hard choices. He wrote, “I would vote him in again anytime. There is no way you can correct mistakes done by others in four years, you need another chance. More time perhaps to improve and make more corrections. Yes, you did, Obama.”

didn’t like idea
But there were others who didn’t like the whole idea of wishing Obama well.

For example, Darel wrote, “This is the problem with Africans and Kenyans. Why should we send Obama goodwill messages? Because we share what? Skin colour? Is there any other reason apart from that? How beneficial was he to Kenya during his first tenure? Kenyans should understand westerners have no notion of ‘extended’ families.

“Isn’t Obama’s aunt struggling economically in the US? What makes us more related to him than his own aunt? We should fight to better our own status rather than trying to seek ties with successful people in other countries.”

But there was someone who jumped to his defence. Fridah Kirimo wrote, “Obama has not failed anybody. The world economy was down even when he got there. It’s by luck that recoveries have been made, albeit small.

“I really don’t care who wins but Romney is terrible in foreign policy and the outcome if Romney gets it, is the effect this will have on the world economy.”