Mrs Sarah Obama, the grandmother to US President-elect Barack Obama, arrives at Kisumu Airport on Sunday.

She was to fly to Nairobi and then Washington DC to witness Obama’s inauguration on January 20. [PHOTO: JAMES KEYI/STANDARD]

By George Olwenya

Mama Sarah Obama has started her journey to the US to witness the swearing-in of her grandson Barack Obama as the 44th American President.

And she is not travelling empty-handed. As a grandmother, she is carrying special gifts for her grandson — a Luo traditional three-legged stool, a flywhisk and a shield, which are symbols of leadership. "I wanted to give him a spear too, but I have been told that due to security reasons, I will not be allowed to board a plane with it," Mama Sarah told The Standard.

Mama Sarah was in a jubilant mood as she left Nyang’oma Kogelo village for Nairobi. There was a battery of foreign and local journalists to record the moment.

"The day I was waiting for has finally come… I cannot hide my joy," she said, adding: "I am going to be Kenya’s ambassador during the occasion and I will live to the expectations."

Mama Sarah will put up with relatives in Nairobi before departing to the US on Friday from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, only a day before the US President-elect kicks of his inaugural celebrations by taking the day-long journey to Washington DC.

Obama and his family will start their daylong journey with an event in Philadelphia before boarding the train and picking up Vice-President-elect Joe Biden and his family in Wilmington, Delaware. The group will then make a stop in Baltimore before making their way to Washington DC.

Obama’s train trip evokes memories of US’s 16th President Abraham Lincoln who travelled the same route by train to get to Washington DC for his inauguration in 1861.

Lincoln left his home in Springfield for a 12-day journey to Washington DC and made 101 speeches during stopovers.

Among the relatives accompanying Mama Sarah are her son Said Obama and his wife Beatrice; Kogelo community spokesman Nicholas Rajula and his wife Nelly; Senator Obama Kogelo Secondary School BOG chairman Charles Ochome and the Principal Eunita Obiero, as well as Lynn Yaya, a sister to Prime minister Raila Odinga’s wife Ida.

Mama Sarah said she was delighted as the big day (inauguration) nears and her going to America to attend the occasion means a lot to Kenya.

"We are going to install him so that he can serve the world," she said in Dholuo. "When he sees me he will be very happy because he will have seen his blood," she said amid prolonged laughter.

"I know Barack will be very happy to see me. My presence will mean a lot to him," she added.

She added she would have wished to carry a spear to give Obama but was told that it will not be allowed through the airport.

"Rajula tried to carry a spear to give Barack when he won the Senate seat but he was blocked at the airport," she recalled.

After the inauguration, Mama Sarah said it would now be upon Obama to work hard and ensure he helped those suffering across the world.

In Kogelo, among those who bid her farewell included senior official of Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organization in Siaya district, Mrs Patricia Apoli, and members of the Kogelo cultural committee who were putting final touches to a cultural festival that is set to start on January 16 at Kogelo Primary School to celebrate the installation of Obama as President of the United States.

The Mayor of Washington Mr Adrian Fenty estimates that up to five million people will attend the inauguration as it is the first time ever the US has an African-American president.

All hotels in Washington DC and surrounding suburbs were booked months ago, and tourists now have to make do with alternative accommodation with families willing to sub-let their houses.

Lifted by KiN from The Standard