* Obama re-election fails to bring jubilation seen in 2008
* President urged to focus on Africa education, health
* People hope Obama may visit Africa again, babies named
after him
By Njuwa Maina and Ben Makori
KOGELO, Kenya, Nov 7 (Reuters) – Kenyans in Barack Obama’s
ancestral homeland stayed up all night and danced with joy on
Wednesday as America’s first black president won a second term
in the White House, raising the prospects of a fresh start for
his ties with Africa.
Many Africans feel Obama has not responded to their huge
enthusiasm when he won the presidency four years ago with an
increased U.S. commitment to the world’s poorest continent
during his first term.
His re-election failed to rouse the same level of jubilation
that was seen across Kenya following his 2008 election victory.
But as news of Obama’s victory came through, hundreds of
people gathered in his late father’s village, and cheers and
chants of “Obama, Obama, Obama!” erupted when key U.S. states
fell to the east African country’s favourite adopted son.
In the tiny western hamlet of Kogelo, men waved tree
branches and banged drums at the Obama family home where his
grandmother Sarah lives. Women ululated and cried tears of joy,
muttering prayers of thanksgiving.
Continued…
