Spirits high despite no trip to K’Ogelo

What you need to know:

  • Some of the T-shirts and caps are inscribed with the message: “Siaya… It is here that my story began” while others are emboldened in Dholuo monikers such as ‘‘Baba asewuok abiro dala, (Father, I have left the US and I am coming home).
  • The excitement can only be compared to that in November 2008 when Mr Obama, whose father is Kenyan, was elected to lead the world’s most powerful nation.

Despite a disappointing announcement by the US embassy that President Obama will not visit his Kogelo home in Siaya County, residents of Luo Nyanza are bubbling with excitement.

In Kisumu, there is a celebratory mood as business-minded youth make a killing selling Obama merchandise.

Some of the T-shirts and caps are inscribed with the message: “Siaya… It is here that my story began” while others are embroidered in Dholuo monikers such as ‘‘Baba asewuok abiro dala, (Father, I have left the US and I am coming home).

The excitement can only be compared to that in November 2008 when Mr Obama, whose father is Kenyan, was elected to lead the world’s most powerful nation.

Residents held night vigils, wore Obama-branded merchandise and spent their night watching the transmission of election results with jubilation.

President Obama billboards have been erected in the town while some businessmen have renamed their businesses after him.

“I decided to rename my kiosk ‘Obama Snacks’ to attract more customers since everyone around here is talking about Obama,” said Mr Collins Ochieng, a resident of Migosi Estate in Kisumu.

A large billboard has been erected on the Kisumu-Busia highway by Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga welcoming Obama home.

Women have not been spared by the fever, with many flocking to salons for the trending “Obama” hairstyle.

According to Ms Cecilia Awino, who runs The Strand Salon in Kisumu’s Mega Plaza, more and more women started asking for the Obama hairdo two months ago after the announcement that he would be visiting the country for the entrepreneurship summit.

“We receive an average of three clients everyday who ask to be plaited Obama lines (corn rows),” she said.

Local artists have been busy with Obama paintings, complete with his first election campaign slogan ‘‘Yes We Can’’.

At Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital, the entrance has been branded the "Obama Gate" and the paediatric wing has also been christened "Obama Children’s Hospital".