Kenyans are anxiously waiting for the outcome of the UnitedStates presidential election as Americans head to the polls to choose asuccessor to outgoing President George W. Bush. The election pits SenatorBarack Obama, whose father hails from Kenya, and Senator John McCain. Thelatest round of polls show an edge for Obama over McCain as nationwide votingbegins Tuesday. Kenyans unanimously are waiting eagerly as they see Obama as ason of the country whose rise in US politics would serve as an encouragement toup and coming youth.
ProfessorKabiru Kinyanjui is a Kenyan political analyst. He tells reporter Peter Clotteyfrom the capital, Nairobi that Kenyans are cautiously optimistic about Obama'svictory today.
"Kenyansare waiting with a bated breath to see the result, of which they are expectingthat Senator Obama would be the elected president of the United States of America.So the mood here is that of expectancy and really waiting for the results to bedeclared so that they can break into celebration and thanksgiving," Kinyanjuisaid.
Hesaid Obama's presidential aspiration is a significant unifying factor to allKenyans no matter the ethnicity, especially after Kenya's recent generalelection led to violence and a loss of lives and property.
"Thisis one event which is uniting Kenya. And Kenyans have been looking for an eventwhere they would feel good and they can be united. The election as thecandidacy of Barak Obama is one event, which has really brought Kenyanstogether. They see him as a Kenyan, son of a Kenyan father, who is really doinggood and is really making them proud to be able to identify with him," he said.
Kinyanjuisaid Kenyans see hope in senator Obama.
"Theyalso see this as a great opportunity for an African American to rise to thehighest position in United States something which breaks barriers of historyand the back of racism, and ushers in a new era not, only for America, but forthe whole world," Kinyanjui pointed out.
Hesaid a possible Obama victory would not only be historic, but alsoinspirational.
"Thisis going to be inspirational to young people to stand for justice, to stand foreconomic progress, and also to appreciate that quality of leadership and toaspire to a different kind of leadership than we have experienced in the past.So this has got inspirational value to the young Kenyans who want to seequality leadership emerging in the country," he said.
Kinyanjuisaid Africans should draw inspiration from the US election to entrenchdemocracy in the continent.
"Oneelement is for Africa to strengthen democracy by focusing on issues focusing onleadership qualities, focusing on policies which can be able to move thecontinent ahead. This is a major lesson to see the way the American electionshave moved focusing on economic welfare, focusing on the security of America,and focusing on the quality on the person who can lead and provide theleadership, which is required by the majority of the people," Kinyanjui noted.