National holiday in Kenya on Obama victory

[Lusajo]

Nairobi, Nov 5 (DPA) Kenyans took to the streets early Wednesday morning to celebrate Barack Obama’s election to the White House as the nation’s president declared a national holiday.In downtown Nairobi and in Kibera, one of Africa’s largest slums, people dressed in suits on their way to work joined those who had stayed up all night watching the election returns to dance and chant Obama’s name.

Similar excited scenes took place in Kogelo, western Kenya, where many of Obama’s Kenyan relatives had gathered at the home of his grandmother, Sarah Obama.

Police had locked out the media and well-wishers from the Obama home, but the family was expected to make a statement about the victory later in the morning.

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki congratulated president-elect Obama on his victory and designated Thursday as a public holiday for Kenyans to celebrate the “historic achievement.”

“This is a momentous day not only in the history of the United States of America, but also for us in Kenya,” Kibaki said in a statement.

“The victory of Senator Obama is our own victory because of his roots here in Kenya. As a country, we are full of pride for his success.”

Obama’s late father was Kenyan, although he abandoned his son when he was only two years old.

Despite the fact he has only visited Kenya a handful of times, Obama is considered a hero in the East African nation.

Many Kenyans feel that while having an African-American in the White House may not bring concrete change for Africa, it will bring a new self-respect for black people everywhere.

“In colonial times black people were considered unimportant,” said Joseph Mjomba, a 21-year-old student. “Now we have a black man in the White House.”

MY TAKE: WAS THIS NECESSARY au ndio uvivu wetu wa-Afrika?

 

[Dark City]

Upuuzi tu! Hatuhitaji siku ya mapumziko kusherehekea ushindi wa Rais wa Marekani.

Kama kweli Kibaki anaipenda Kenya na kujisikia fahari kuwa Mkenya mbona aliitumbukiza kwenye mauaji ya kipuuzi Desemba mwaka jana?? Hata kama tunafurahia jambo hatutakiwa kuruhusu hisia na miwashasha yetu (emotions) ikae juu ya busara. Hapa kama kweli Kibaki katoa siku ya mapumziko kwa nchi ambayo inatakiwa kuongeza muda wa kufanya kazi ili kuziba mashimo aliyosababisha yeye, sitakosea hata kidogo na sitaona aibu kumuita mpuuzi wa mwaka 2008!

 

[Limbani]

Wanadhani Obama atasiaidia Kenya kwa kuwa Rais wa Marekani!! Ni upuuzi mtupu huu

 

[AbdulKensington]

Waache wenzetu wafurahi...kwa mila za ki-afrika mtoto ni wa baba kwa hio Obama ni Mkenya!

 

[Limbani]

Waache wenzetu wafurahi...kwa mila za ki-afrika mtoto ni wa baba kwa hio Obama ni Mkenya!

Angegombea uRais wa Kenya basi..!!

 

[Lusajo]

Upuuzi tu! Hatuhitaji siku ya mapumziko kusherehekea ushindi wa Rais wa Marekani.

Kama kweli Kibaki anaipenda Kenya na kujisikia fahari kuwa Mkenya mbona aliitumbukiza kwenye mauaji ya kipuuzi Desemba mwaka jana?? Hata kama tunafurahia jambo hatutakiwa kuruhusu hisia na miwashasha yetu (emotions) ikae juu ya busara. Hapa kama kweli Kibaki katoa siku ya mapumziko kwa nchi ambayo inatakiwa kuongeza muda wa kufanya kazi ili kuziba mashimo aliyosababisha yeye, sitakosea hata kidogo na sitaona aibu kumuita mpuuzi wa mwaka 2008!

Inaweza kuwa ni move ya kisiasa, yaani unaangalia nini watu wanataka kwa muda huoo na ndio unawapa.

 

[Buswelu]

Katika vitu vya kijinga africa(kenya)imejionyesha kuwa ni ya kijinga ni hili basi....
huwezi kusimamisha production nchi nzima kwa ajiri ya kusherekea uchaguzi wa nchi nyingine...na wakenya kuwa critical namna ile nao wamekubali kufanya hilo...

Tunaelekea wapi...hivi ndio tunaenda kusimama uko umoja wa mataifa tukisema tunaweza wakati muda tunaupteza katika..mambo kama haya....no no huu ni uppuzi kabisa...hata wao wamarekani sijui kama watafanya public holiday.

 

[Lusajo]

Katika vitu vya kijinga africa(kenya)imejionyesha kuwa ni ya kijinga ni hili basi....
huwezi kusimamisha production nchi nzima kwa ajiri ya kusherekea uchaguzi wa nchi nyingine...na wakenya kuwa critical namna ile nao wamekubali kufanya hilo...

Tunaelekea wapi...hivi ndio tunaenda kusimama uko umoja wa mataifa tukisema tunaweza wakati muda tunaupteza katika..mambo kama haya....no no huu ni uppuzi kabisa...hata wao wamarekani sijui kama watafanya public holiday.

Public holiday marekani!! ya niniii!! kashachaguliwa kazi zinaendelea kama kawaida

 

[LazyDog]

Hizi habari ni za kweli?




.

 

[DMussa]

Hizi habari ni za kweli?




.

Lazydog
Mimi niko Nairobi and i confirm it is 100% true!! kama unaweza access Nation Media website you might be able to get it!!!

 

[RR]

Hizi habari ni za kweli?

I wish it weren't true, but thats the way it is.

 

[Smatta]

Katika vitu vya kijinga africa(kenya)imejionyesha kuwa ni ya kijinga ni hili basi....
huwezi kusimamisha production nchi nzima kwa ajiri ya kusherekea uchaguzi wa nchi nyingine...na wakenya kuwa critical namna ile nao wamekubali kufanya hilo...

Tunaelekea wapi...hivi ndio tunaenda kusimama uko umoja wa mataifa tukisema tunaweza wakati muda tunaupteza katika..mambo kama haya....no no huu ni uppuzi kabisa...hata wao wamarekani sijui kama watafanya public holiday.

Whats with all this crap, Kenyans are just celebrating one of their own being in the helm of the highest power in the world. Mbona msiseme Ghana kapewa siku mbili za kusheherekea ushindi wa Obama. Kenyans have the right to celebrate his victory than any country except America and Hawaii, its one of their own for crying out loud. If Kikwete didnt give y'all a holiday, just be contented with your crappy saba saba. AM OUT

 

[MwalimuZawadi]

Hivi muungwana JK sijui KJ anakwenda lini US kujitambulisha kwa Obama? Maana kwa kupenda safari...sitashangaaa nikisikia siku 6 US za kujitambulisha gggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Hivi ile hongera ya copy&paste toka kwa muungwana kwenda kwa Obama imeshatoka?

 

[Songambele]

Nilikuwa transit Nairobi asubuhi ya leo, kweli jamaa wanastahili sikukuu, nilivyoshuka jana tu niliona hali hiyo binafsi nawaunga mkono. Wakenya wmechizika sana kuhusu Obana na kuweka tofauti zao pembeni na kumwombea Obama. Obama ni zaidi ya kuwa raisi wa Marekani na inawezekana pia ubaguzi wa rangi, kabila, koo na dini vinaweza kuweka pembeni na mtu kupewa fursa ya kuongoza.

Nikirejea alichosema Obama " if happen in America why not else where in the world, Britain or France". Kwanini isitokee Bongo au Kenya, ukifuatilia historia ya Obama inaonyesha kabisa jamaa hakutoka katika familia bora na ukoo wake hakuna aliyepata kuwa mwanasiasa wa calibre yake tofauti na huku kwetu kila kiongozi analazimisha awe kiongozi.

Wamarekani wameonyesha na sasa ni zamu ya yetu kujifunza kutoka kwao.

 

[Lambardi]

Kama nawaona watani wa jadi.................

 

[Sikonge]

Na sie Watanzania ni Donge tu. Yetu yametushinda na tunaanza kuangalia ya wenzetu. Hata wakifanya Public Holiday siku mbili bado kiuchumi hatutawafikia. Wanatuzidi kwa vitu vingi tu na sasa Kenya iko maarufu sana kwani TV nyingi zimeonyesha Kenya. Hakuna tangazo la bure la Kenya na tena Kubwa hasa kama hili.
Naunga mkono wanaosema kuwa, Obama anaweza kuuwa hata ukabila Kenya. Ila sisi ndiyo tutabaki na AMANI yetu, EPA yetu, Meremeta yetu, IOC yetu, Zanzibar yetu, Muungwana wetu, Madini yetu, mbuga za wanyama nk but what we get from it??

 

[Baba_Enock]

It is not bad... Wa-kenya walikesha kwenye television na kwa vyovyote vile hata wangekwenda ofisini ingekuwa sawa tu na kuwa majumbani kwao au hata kuwa pale "Florida" - ya nairobi!

 

[Smatta]

na sie watanzania ni donge tu. Yetu yametushinda na tunaanza kuangalia ya wenzetu. Hata wakifanya public holiday siku mbili bado kiuchumi hatutawafikia. Wanatuzidi kwa vitu vingi tu na sasa kenya iko maarufu sana kwani tv nyingi zimeonyesha kenya. Hakuna tangazo la bure la kenya na tena kubwa hasa kama hili.
Naunga mkono wanaosema kuwa, obama anaweza kuuwa hata ukabila kenya. Ila sisi ndiyo tutabaki na amani yetu, epa yetu, meremeta yetu, ioc yetu, zanzibar yetu, muungwana wetu, madini yetu, mbuga za wanyama nk but what we get from it??

luv your post man, imenifurahisha kinyama, waambie wenzetu.. This is a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

 

[LazyDog]

Na sie Watanzania ni Donge tu. Yetu yametushinda na tunaanza kuangalia ya wenzetu. Hata wakifanya Public Holiday siku mbili bado kiuchumi hatutawafikia. Wanatuzidi kwa vitu vingi tu na sasa Kenya iko maarufu sana kwani TV nyingi zimeonyesha Kenya. Hakuna tangazo la bure la Kenya na tena Kubwa hasa kama hili.
Naunga mkono wanaosema kuwa, Obama anaweza kuuwa hata ukabila Kenya. Ila sisi ndiyo tutabaki na AMANI yetu, EPA yetu, Meremeta yetu, IOC yetu, Zanzibar yetu, Muungwana wetu, Madini yetu, mbuga za wanyama nk but what we get from it??

Sikonge, nami nimeanza kuona uzuri wa "move" aliyoifanya Kibaki. Sio Wamarekani pekee watakao sikia habari hii, bali nchi nyingi wataona hii ni habari moto ya kuwekwa kwenye vyombo vya habari. Japo wengine watafanya hivyo kwa kuona hiki ni kichekesho, Kenya itakuwa imefanikiwa kujitangaza. Celebrities wengi USA wametumia hii mbinu wakifanya "stunts" kupata publicity.

Imagine wakenya wakitumia pia wasaa huu kutangaza vivutio vya mbuga zao. Wenzetu wanatengeneza bond na kuwavutia wamarekani wengi kuja kutembea Kenya. The more they see Kenya on their media, the better it is for Kenya tourism. Now, here is the thing - serikali ya sisi M itashindwa kuunga bodi, kuwavutia waje pia Bongo kabla hawajarudi?

Barack Obama's victory will change the future for Obama, residents think​

Barack Obama victory: Namesake Japanese fishing village celebrates US election result


Today, the sleepy fishing town of Obama in Japan was celebrating a very different kind of recognition: sharing a name with the first black president of the United States of America.

More than 11,000 miles from Washington, election mania reached fever pitch in the unlikely setting of Obama, a rural port town in the remote Fukui region of central Japan.

As the election results trickled in, the community celebrated with hula dancing, singing, clapping and chanting "we love Obama" at a series of parties in the town's seafront museum.

An eclectic selection of Obama-themed goods - all emblazoned with the face of the town's namesake - were on sale at the parties, ranging from chopsticks and head bands to sake and steamed 'manju' cakes as well as mackerel and sea bream Obama fish burgers.

Dressed from head to toe in I Love Obama paraphernalia, Yasunori Maeno, secretary of the Obama for Obama campaign group, said: "This all started as a bit of a joke. But as more and more people got involved, it became more serious.

"Now there are many businesses involved in the Obama campaign and it will continue now that he is president.

"This will change the future for us."

Surrounded by rugged green mountains and boasting just 33,000 residents, Obama is not a town that is used to the international spotlight.

But today marked the culmination of a ten-month Obama for Obama campaign that has involved more than 1,300 members of the community.

For months, banners and flags depicting the famous face of Mr Obama have fluttered on lampposts across the town, while a life-sized statue of the president, complete with stars and stripes necktie, sits outside the local department store.

Today, as the campaign reached its climax and votes were counted across America, residents of all ages gathered in the airy confines of the local food culture museum where the election parties were taking place.

Rows of Obama-themed merchandise took pride of place, ranging from kimono jackets emblazoned with I Love Obama to packets of local soba noodles with the label: "I Love Obama Noodles: For World Peace and Stability".

A troupe of men and women were performing a series of Hawaiian 'flower dances' they had been rehearsing for months in homage of Mr Obama's birthplace when it emerged that Mr Barack had been named president.

Amid much cheering, clapping and maracas-waving, Noriko Chimi, a housewife who was at the party with her one-year-old daughter, said: "This will change life in Obama for the better.

"When I was at high school, things were not going well for Obama. Shops were closing, business was bad, people were unhappy.

"This is going to change things for people for the better. It is an exciting day for Obama."

One of the dancers Hiroko Yamazaki, a 22-year-old student, added: "I hope this will bring us one step closer to world peace."

Centre stage among the local Obama supporters were a number of surprise international visitors: Americans in Japan who had made a pilgrimage to Mr Obama's namesake town.

The American contingent - by far the source of the loudest cheering as election results trickled in - included Ezekiel Charlesworth, 23, an options trader from New York: "I'm here because my holiday in Japan has coincided with the elections and I heard about this place a few months ago.

"This is such an important day for America and it is great to be able to spend it with so many Japanese supporters. Today is the day America regained its dignity, integrity and self-confidence."

In between chants of "yes we can", Kyla Howell, 26, an English teacher living in Japan from Portland, Oregon, added: "I would never have imagined such a strong support for Obama in such a surreal setting.

"It is a gigantic day for America and I'm happy to be able to share it with Obama in Japan."

When the partying subsides, the biggest impact of the arrival of the new president is likely to hit local businesses and tourism .

Already the effects of the campaign are being felt: while 25,000 visitors headed to Obama during 2007, the first six months of this year alone attracted 18,000 people.

Akinori Hemmi, 40, a local sake producer showcasing ten specially brewed bottles of Obama sake, said: "I hope to sell these Obama sake in every off licence in the region."

Masahiko Chimizu, 40, a local baker who has made a range of traditional Obama cakes, added: "I am definitely going to be making many more Obama cakes now. Maybe I'll go home now and start making a victory batch of cakes."

Earlier, Koji Matsuzaki, the mayor of Obama, had described his hopes of revitalising the local economy and raising the international profile of the community.

"This will change Obama so it can become famous throughout the world," he told the Telegraph. "Barack Obama merchandise will invigorate the economy and, I hope, improve the living standard for local people."

While Republican supporters were understandably keeping a low profile today in Obama, the region is not without its links to Mr Obama's rivals.

The region is home to the factory that makes Sarah Palin's popular rimless glasses, which has seen sales soar since her rise to prominence in the campaign.

.

 

[Mfwatiliaji]

Ndiyo hivyo, naona na taifa kubwa kama wajapani wanachangamkia deal ikiwa moto.
Jana hiyo hiyo kuna shirika la ndege la Poland waliokuwa wamesitisha trip za ndege zao kubwa kwenda kenya imebidi waanzishe ghafla safari za nairobi.
Tuwaache jarani zetu wafurahie jamani.