Crowds celebrate Obama victory at Kenyan grandmother's home

Barack Obama's grandmother holds an election placard at her
home in western Kenya, February 2008.

04 June, 2008

KOGELO, Kenya (AFP) - Scores of jubilant villagers trooped to Sarah Obama's home in western Kenya Wednesday to savour her grandson's victory as US Democratic Party presidential nominee.

Democratic presidential candidate
Barack Obama and his wife Michelle
prepare to board their plane at Chicago
Midway Airport June 3, 2008.

While crowds huddled around TV sets in the provincial capital Kisumu to watch excerpts of Barack Obama's victory speech when he made history to become the first black candidate of a major US party.

"I was very delighted to learn that he had scored big against his rival," an ebullient Sarah Obama told reporters amid bursts of laughter.

"I'm very happy and continue praying that he succeeds in future."

Obama captured the Democratic White House nomination in an intense primary elections battle to beat rival Hillary Clinton.

The Illinois senator's momentous victory set up an intriguing general election clash with the 71-year-old Republican senator, John McCain.

"Finally one of our own is getting up there to the high seat in America," said Pascal Onyango, a water vendor in Kisumu.

"Obama has done our community and our country proud. We are very happy about that. We know he will win," Jack Owuor, a resident in Kogelo village said.

Sarah Obama was the third wife of Obama's paternal grandfather, Hussein Onyango Obama. Although not a blood relation, Obama often refers to her as his grandmother.