President Obama and his wife were not the only family members celebrating after it was announced that he had been elected into a second term. Other relatives in Kenya also shared warm embraces, including his "Granny."
(Photo: Reuters/Jason Reed)U.S. President Barack Obama gathers with his wife Michelle Obama (L) and daughters Sasha and Malia (R) during his election night victory rally in Chicago November 7, 2012.
For some, Obama's re-election was not just an American victory. In Kenya, nearby residents raised branches of green leaves and sped around on bikes to spread news of the announcement.
"The community is happy. The community is waking up from their sleep to come and celebrate," Kennedy Rajula, the president's cousin, said to The San Francisco Gate.
Sarah Obama, the second wife to the president's paternal grandfather who also lives in Kenya, shared her pride after the election. In his memoir "Dreams from My Father," Obama had endearingly referred to Sarah as his "Granny."
"Take the great job that people have given to you and lead them well," she advised her relative. "They have shown immense love to have voted for you."
The Prime Minister of Kenya also acknowledged Obama's win, adding that his victory was also one for Kenya.
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"Obama's victory has proved that it was not a fluke the first time round, that the American society has changed, that the people of America have now, basically living the American dream of a people who are united by race, by religion, by ethnicity and so on," Prime Minister Raila Odinga told the Associated Press. "People are prepared to work together to build their country."
Odinga also complimented the United States for its "issue based" elections, adding that Kenya should follow its example.
"This is what we should learn from these elections, American elections, and try to see if we cannot replicate it here in Kenya, that we move away from personality based campaigns or ethnic based campaigns and move toward issue-based campaigns," Odinga said.
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