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Wine flows at US ambassador’s house
US Ambassador to Kenya Michael Rannebeger. Photo/FILE
Champagne flowed on Wednesday morning at American ambassador Michael Ranneberger’s residence on Muthaiga Road in Nairobi, where hundreds of people gathered to celebrate President-elect Barack Obama’s spectacular election triumph.
The guests, including MPs, diplomats and American residents in Kenya, crowded into large tents where large television sets displayed the incoming poll results.
Guests danced and shouted when Mr Obama was declared the winner and went into frenzied cheering when CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer showed live pictures from Kogelo, where Kenyans gathered on Wednesday for festivities.
They even clapped when Oprah Winfrey was shown making an appearance at Mr Obama’s victory rally in Chicago. It was a happy ending to the longest election season in US history.
Shake hands
Republican rival John McCain even campaigned through election day, hoping to come from behind for a last-minute upset. But it was not to be.
The senator from Arizona ended up conceding defeat, a gracious move that was praised by Mr Ranneberger as an example that Kenya should learn to follow.
“It was a good example of democracy in action,” he said. “We will be very intent to see that fundamental democratic reforms are implemented here in Kenya,” he added.
His words were echoed by assistant Trade minister Omingo Magara, who said Kenyans have many lessons to learn from the historic contest.
“You must not rally your community when you lose…the loser should instead shake hands with the winner,” he said.
Water minister Charity Ngilu, Fisheries minister Paul Nyongesa and Prof Wangari Mathai, winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize, also attended.
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