After a nightlong silence marked with anxiety, the Kenyan village of Kogelo, the home of US President Barrack Obama’s father, burst into life early Wednesday following his victory in the US presidential polls.
Obama won re-election beating his Republican foe Mitt Romney in a closely contested presidential poll, becoming only the second Democrat to win a second four-year White House term since World War II.
The Kogelo village burst into celebration as the big screen mounted at Senator Barrack Obama Primary School relayed news that Obama had won the polls by majority of electoral college votes, reported Xinhua.
Songs, dance and dirges characterized the celebration with bigger plans to throw a party in favour of Obama in the tiny village where President Obama’s father was born.
A big music system mounted on a moving van and a convoy of motorbikes all emerged soon after the announcement and criss-crossed the village playing songs praising Obama.
Family spokesman Malick Abongo said they now have reason to celebrate the second win.
“We did not want to celebrate or have any prior arrangement for that because the race was too tight, but now we can throw a party,” an elated Malick told journalists in Kogelo.
Sarah Obama, Malick’s step mother, said her hopes had come true with the win.
Other villagers also joined in the frenzy with songs and dance as shouts of “winner, winner” rent the air.
The celebration was in contrast to the earlier mood in the village where residents held their breath throughout the night as early results put the Republican presidential nominee ahead in the race.
Seth Onyango, a villager, said the village is preparing a feast to mark the celebration. “This is the only chance we have to celebrate, we have to maximize it,” said Seth.