Sarah Obama, Barack Obama’s grandmother, says he will repeat
Sarah Obama, step-grandmother to President Barack Obama, leaves a press conference at her home on November 6, 2012 in the village of Kogelo, Kenya, where Obama’s father was born.
Sarah Obama says her grandson, Barack, has what it takes to repeat as President of the United States.
From her home in Kenya, the 90-year-old grandmother said Obama’s personality endears him to voters.
“His style of leadership skills which he has used to unite all the races in the US is the reason why he is liked by many,” Sarah said in the village of Kogelo, Xinhua News Agency reported.
According to Xinhua, villagers are closely watching US election results.
Sarah told reporters that the president was preordained as a great leader.
“His father jokingly told me that he gave birth to a very sharp boy who exhibits quality of a leader in future which at first I dismissed, but now I have witnessed,” she said.
The US president last visited Kogelo in 2006, Xinhua said.
Sarah is watching the TV coverage from a guarded compound, where she has stayed since campaigning began, The Standard reported.
More from GlobalPost: Results, schedules and more on live election blog
GlobalPost correspondent Tristan McConnell is at Sarah's home and will be filing detailed reports from Kenya.
The woman who raises livestock in Kenya admitted that Republican challenger Mitt Romney is providing a challenge.
“I am happy with his work and pray he wins the election because he will help the community,” she told The Standard.
Sarah is also an anti-malaria campaign ambassador. Police guard her home, and meeting her is by appointment.
She is unable to travel because of poor health.
Ten bishops visiting the home have encouraged Kenyans to pray for Obama’s win, The Standard said.
Sarah Obama’s home is about an hour’s drive from Lake Victoria in western Kenya, AFP reported.
Many establishments are selling $12 tickets to watch election coverage on large-screen TVs, the news agency reported.
“I’m going to watch the election all night long,” Mary Manyala Ohito told AFP. “It’s expensive, but I’ll manage.”
Some workers in the area make just $12 per week, AFP reported.
More from GlobalPost: Obama Burger, Romney Omelette on menu in Paris
The story you just read is available for free because thousands of listeners and readers like you generously support our nonprofit newsroom. Every day, reporters and producers at The World are hard at work bringing you human-centered news from across the globe. But we can’t do it without you: We need your support to ensure we can continue this work for another year.
Make a gift today, and you’ll get us one step closer to our goal of raising $25,000 by June 14. We need your help now more than ever!