It is only 16 days since the year begun but things have started on a very sad note in Kenya.

At the moment, the government is busy lobbying for food as 10 million of its citizens face looming hunger as experts continue to predict even harder times as the year goes by.

Of course the fact that Obama will be inaugurated on 20th of this month gives Kenya a reason to celebrate and be proud but sad on the other hand. A high profile delegation is now on a crash program making travel arrangements to the US to at least share the cake as the president elect officially takes over the White House.

We have all reasons as a nation to feel honored as “one of our own” takes the reigns of the most powerful nations in the world but we feel cheated and betrayed as our leaders have blown the whole issue out of proportion. It’s only logical that Obama would even feel proud and honored if our leaders seriously considered the plight of citizens facing hunger before making exaggerated budgets in the name of attending his inauguration which they can watch on TV from here the same way they will do it there.

Obama’s father native village Kogelo in Western Kenya has proved wise enough as the locals are upbeat making their own plans to share the moment with him back at home with song and dance.
Traditional elders of Kogelo village say the feast would be used to showcase the Luo culture and market the region as a tourist attraction.

A 14-member committee has been instituted to plan the events leading to the inauguration including traditional dances, wrestling and a display of Luo material culture and speeches from guest politicians and community elders. A giant screen is to be mounted at the local Barack Obama Primary School grounds, where the local activities will be taking place to allow people to monitor the swearing-in proceedings live from the US.

Four bulls, 10 goats and 30 chickens will be slaughtered to feed guests to crown the day. Highly expected on the menu is the local chang’aa brew, a highly potent traditional form of spirit popular in western Kenya and a favorite of the poor.