Kenyan village where Obama's dad resided adjusts to its new landmark status

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The famous Kogello Village where Obama hails from have undergone a complete metamorphosis. The change was clearly evident soon after the man whose roots are in the village became the President-elect of the Super power nation, The United States of America.

The Kogello Village , is in the Western Part of the Republic of Kenya.Thousands of visitors including foreigners and journalists from all walks of life have been visiting this place since Obama was declared the winner of the hotly contested USA Presidential election 2008. The visitors , driven by a curiosity to see the roots of the man whose name is on everyone’s lips.

The world spotlight is firmly on the hitherto remote and sleepy village because President -Elect Obama’s late father, Mr. Barrack Obama Snr, was born and raised here in Kogello.

According to the Luo customs and traditions, a child belongs to the father, hence the strong bonds of kingship to the American President-elect in Nyanza Province, Western Part of the Republic of Kenya.

A third bull and several goats and sheep were slaughtered as celebrations entered the third night. There was also the presence of prominent leaders among the Bishop Washington Ongonyo Ngend’e of Power of Jesus Around the World Church, Siaya District Commissioner Mr. Boaz  Cherutich and Prime Ministers aide Mr. Samuel Aduol , who delivered 5 {Five} bulls from his boss with a congratulatory message that he {the PM} would be visiting soon.

Yesterday, Busloads of students and curious visitors from as far as Tanzania and Uganda drove to the village, with some bearing gifts for the family.

American nationals in Kenya also thronged the home in what they described as an encounter with the roots of the man who now held the world’s destiny in his hands and the whole globe  is focused on him. Never before has Africa  and the world focused on one man like this. Only when Nelson Mandera was released from prison.

Although the Obama family said yesterday that they would not like to be treated differently, the signs point to the fact that they are no longer simple villagers.

Before Wednesday, the road leading to the homestead was a bumpy path that was a driver’s nightmare whenever it rained. But by yesterday, it had miraculously been cleared and leveled.

The Kenya Power and Lighting Company was expected to have connected electricity by last night through the decree of the President of the Republic of Kenya, Mwai Kibaki.

This is complete contrast to the situation when Mr. Obama who was by then just an Illinois Senator visited his father’s homeland, Kogello nearly three years ago.

Then, Mama Sarah lived in  a semi-permanent house which has since been rebuilt  and is sparkling from a fresh coat of paint.

The compound, which was surrounded with indigenous shrubs , has since been fenced and boasts a police post manned  24 hours by eight  officers.

The police were deployed to the home after thieves  tried to steal the family’s solar panel a couple of months ago. And yesterday, Siaya District Commissioner Boaz Cherutich said that security had been beefed up to cope with the influx of visitors.

The main road passing through the village to Bondo town in Nyanza province, Kenya, which was until last week no more  than a dusty and bumpy path , has undergone major repairs.

The family draws water from a well at the corner of the homestead  but in the new scheme of things , this is likely to be a thing of the past.

The nearby Nyang’mo Kogelo secondary school acquired the name Senator Obama Secondary School soon after Senator was Elected the President of one  of the most powerful nations in the world.

There are speculations that the schools name is bound to change its name to President Barack Obama High School soon after his swearing in late January , 2009.

The Kogelo Village has suddenly become the most well known in the Western Kenya region, if not in the world, as visitors from all walks of life come from near and far to see the home and the people from whose lineage came the first African-American President.

This story is filed under: Politics