Cheltenham's twin town celebrates Obama win
People in Cheltenham's twin town of Kisumu have declared a public holiday to mark Barack Obama's US election win.
The next American president's late father, also called Barack, came from the western Kenyan province of Nyanza.
Cheltenham has had a friendship link with nearby Kisumu, the capital of Nyanza, since 1985. Townsfolk there celebrated Obama's victory with dancing and singing
Satyavrat Jobanputra , who lives in Kisumu, was one of the people involved in setting up that link.
The 80-year-old said: "People here are very, very happy.
"Mr Obama's grandmother on his father's side still lives in the village of Nyang'oma Kogelo, which is about 40 miles from Kisumu.
"Everybody is delighted to have a man of Kenyan descent, from this area, in the White House."
He added that there was dancing and singing in the streets echoing the celebrations which gripped America on Tuesday night.
More than 1,000 villagers gathered to watch the election night results on a giant screen in Kogelo, where Barack Obama senior is also buried.
In Kisumu, the Jomo Kenyatta sports ground was filled with thousands of people celebrating Obama's victory over John McCain, making him the first ever black president.
They were chanting 'Jakogelo' which means 'the one from Kogelo' and 'White House Direct.' More than half the babies born in Kisumu on Wednesday were named in honour of the new president or his family.
Out of the 15 recorded in the New Nyanza Provincial Hospital, five boys were named Obama and three girls were called Michelle after the next First Lady.
Dennis Mitchell, of Cheltenham's Rendezvous Society, set up the friendship link 23 years ago.
He said: "Mr Obama's family is from the Luo tribe who are the main group in Kisumu and around. If a man's name begins with O, then they're most probably Luo.
"I haven't spoken to anyone there in the last few days but I'm not surprised by what I've seen, people love to celebrate and be very spontaneous.
"Kenya doesn't have a welfare state, so the family is critical. Everyone depends on each other."
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by joe public, bristol
Sunday, November 09 2008, 2:33PM
“Obama never won the election Bush lost it, he was such a bad president whoever stood against him was going to win, and the black tory candidate taylor, lost cheltenham because he was not local not because he is black, the arrogant tories thuoght it was such a save seat they could bring in an outsider, and he did not do to bad from losing because they made him a lord for compensation”
by Andy, Gloucester
Saturday, November 08 2008, 11:43AM
“Isn't Cheltenham the the Conservative stronghold that wouldn't vote in a candidate a few years ago because he was Black....................?”
by Richard, Cheltenham
Friday, November 07 2008, 10:41PM
“So.... people in another country celebrate something in another country. Why is this local news for Gloucestershire exactly? Because it's Cheltenham's twin town? Oh please! Scraping the bottom of the barrel here, aren't we?”
by Hilary, ledbury
Friday, November 07 2008, 8:05PM
“Anon: Don't worry. Joe Biden will make a great president!”
by Jeff B, Cheltenham Spa
Friday, November 07 2008, 3:52PM
“What a pethetic "claim to fame" if i ever heard one.........perhaps Cliff Richard once bought a pair of pants from Cheltenhams branch of Marks and Spencers!!!! WHOOPEE DOO.................”