The results came in at 7 a.m. local time in Nairobi. Thousands of Kenyas held vigil throughout the night waiting for word of a possible Obama victory. Obama's grandmother hosted reporters in her small village and Western Kenya while some villages and cities held mock elections yesterday with Obama and McCain ballot boxes.
Kenyans take great pride in the fact that one of their sons was running for office in the U.S. Full page posters of Obama have appeared in most major newspapers here, and the U.S. election has had front page stories for the past two weeks. Everyone has been talking about it. I've met people I didn't think followed much news, who have confidently explained to me the nuances of the American Electoral College and the importance of Obama victories in battleground states such as Virginia.
When the verdict was received this morning, celebrations broke out throughout Kenya. Thousands have taken to the street with song and dance, setting bonfires and displaying portraits and badges of Obama. The President of Kenya has just declared tomorrow a National Holiday to celebrate Obama's election as President of the United States.
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