Did President Barack Obama really leave?

President Barack Obama

President Barack Obama’s visit to Kenya was by all accounts historic.

I recall my family watching in awe as the famed Airforce One touched down at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. We held our breath as POTUS walked down the stairway and we held back tears of joy as he hugged his sister Auma.

It was also thrilling to see the famed Beast, as well as the security personnel who constantly milled around the great man.

However, nothing had prepared me for the spate of interesting events that followed this visit, particularly in my hacienda.

For instance, Little Tiffany made me promise to buy her a new white dress at the end of this month. She wants to be like Joan, the adorable girl who presented a bouquet of flowers to POTUS at the airport.

My son Jimmy has taken to writing with his left hand, a development that has left his mother with many questions.

“Why are you using your left hand?” she asked day after Obama left. She had asked him to write a shopping list and he came up with what looked like a long list of signatures.

“I find it cool to write with my left hand like Obama does, mum. I think most powerful men are left handed,” he replied coolly.

For the past three weeks, he has been trying to adopt President Obama’s style of doing things, and that includes speeches.

Whenever he talks, I get this feeling that he is trying to address a large gathering.

“Greetings, everybody,” he salutes the family every morning. “I want to believe that we all had a good night’s sleep, and that we are ready to face the challenges of the day. God bless you, and God bless America... er, I mean God bless our family!”

Mama Jimmy used to scold him, but I eventually prevailed upon her to go easy on him.

Indeed, Jimmy’s actions remind me of my youthful years, when I would copy the traits of great men.

I admired Bruce Lee from a young age, and after years of watching his movies, I believed I could handle any adversary in a physical duel.

This might explain the few scars on my face, which I sustained in several brawls against older boys at school.

As a young adult, I greatly admired retired President Moi, particularly for his youthful sprints up the airstairs. Those sprints both fascinated and challenged me. To date, the boy in me still wants to believe I can be as athletic as the old man, and I occasionally sprint up the stairs at my workplace.

“Boys love power, dear and President Obama exemplifies that. If Jimmy admires Obama and wants to be like him, just let him be,” I keep telling Mama Jimmy.

Away from my boys, many other Kenyans are glad to be associated with the US President. Numerous matatu owners and boda boda operators in my county have pimped their vehicles with Obama pictures and US-themed graffiti.

Many babies have reportedly been named after Obama or his aircraft, and one woman in my neighbourhood even named her baby boy Beetle.

It is rumoured that she settled for this name in memory of the Volkswagen Beetle Obama rode in during his first visit.

And as I learned last week, our family’s Toyota Starlet has earned a new name for itself, thanks to Obama’s visit.

On Thursday morning, my boys were having one of their random debates when the new name came up. Russell had sought Jimmy’s help in tackling some math problems, and Jimmy said that he would be busy the whole day and could only offer his assistance in the evening.

“I really cannot help you right now, bro,” he announced. “Nataka kusaidia mum kupika, na daddy aliniambia leo nimuoshee Beast.”

Clearly, despite his short stay in the country, President Obama’s star power may linger on for a long while.