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The Pride of Kenya

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Kisumu's ramshackle little airport is being renovated. Locals joke that it is so the runway is big enough to take Air Force 1 when Barack Obama wins and makes his big homecoming, visiting his step-granny an hour or so up the road. (Although not everyone realised it was a joke.) For now though it seems they'll have to settle for pictures of the Democrat nominee plastered on pretty much everything, including matatus - the local minibus taxis - as the region descends into Obama-mania. I for one am ready to give in. This week there'll be precious other news and I can either moan about it, try pitching stories about the DRC in vain, or spend my week thanking my lucky stars that I'm in a place that is going to go completely bonkers for Obama and write about the excitement.

6 Comments

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Anonymous | October 27, 2008 6:24 AM | Reply

I think the BBC has taken down its story entitled "Kenya Seeks Big Airport for Obama"

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Anonymous | October 27, 2008 2:50 PM | Reply

And now it's working again

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JMac | October 28, 2008 4:33 AM | Reply

what's this about a local "obama" beer? That sounds pretty interesting...

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Anonymous | October 28, 2008 6:34 AM | Reply

It's a beer called Senator. It had been around before. Then when Barack Obama was elected to the Senate, people started asking for a...

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Nairobi Notes | October 29, 2008 6:38 AM | Reply

I wouldn't be surprised if Barry visits Kenya in the next few years. But it is really funny to see journalists missing jokes and taking things super seriously.



I've mentioned I'm sick of the Obama story; now I'm being sent out there as well. I'm not usually asked to write anything (not our business model, another story). Go figure! I think it's just hits, hits and more hits for most online news.


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Anonymous | October 29, 2008 6:50 AM | Reply

It's the biggest story on the planet this week and next. (And the past few as well.) How can you not be lapping it up? I for one am loving it. I'd hate to be sitting in Lagos, Jo'burg or Cairo at the moment wondering how to get my stories in the paper.

What do you think?