A balanced appraisal – Obama win gets mixed reception
Posted by African Press International on June 6, 2008
POSTED BY : sisterrosetta (IP: 72.208.130.215 , ip72-208-130-215.ph.ph.cox.net)
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Posted on June 5, 2008 by nairobichronicle
http://nairobichronicle.wordpress.com/2008/06/05/obama-win-gets-mixed-reception/
Like everything else in Kenya these days, the victory of Senator Barack Obama as the Democratic nominee has split public opinion into two even as the rest of Africa celebrates.
Obamas victory in the United States is being interpreted in Kenya for its possible implications on the political landscape. The Luo feel that an Obama presidency will help develop their area and provide jobs to the youth. They also believe that an Obama presidency will boost the chances for Prime Minister Raila to ascend to the presidency in the near future. Indeed, Raila himself has alluded that he and Obama are distant cousins.
Because of these hopes, the Kikuyu fear that should Obama win the US presidency, the Luo and Prime Minister Raila will gain a significant edge in influencing American policy towards Kenya. The US has veto power in the United Nations and controls the policies of the World Bank and IMF. The US provides Kenya with millions of dollars in military aid. Thus, a US president that identifies with Prime Minister Raila Odinga could portend declining fortunes for Kibaki and his Kikuyu tribe.
Senator Obama was in Kenya in 2006 where he criticized President Kibakis government for corruption. President Kibaki and his supporters viewed the criticism as an endorsement of Raila. Since then, Obama has kept mum over Kenyas political developments.
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