Kenyans in US involved in Obama campaign

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By MACHARIA GAITHO in Jersey City, New Jersey,
USAPosted Thursday, October 23 2008 at 17:33

Photos -- http://www.nation.co.ke/InDepth/AmericaVotes/-/464300/483220/-/item/1/-/s1ds2x/-/index.html


It looks like a typical storefront in a poor and black dominated part of any large city in the US. It is in a tough neighbourhood of Jersey City—and Jersey City is tough by American standards—and flanked by bars, liquor stores and other enterprises probably dealing in more disreputable activities.

Not very far away young men in hoods, sagging jeans and expensive sneakers lounge around, while older men with little better to do sip from bottles concealed in brown paper bags.

But the particular address on 215 Martin Luther King Boulevard seems an oasis of peace in a rough and tough neighbourhood. Entering the Community Services Centre of the Beth-El Seventh Day Adventist Church on last Saturday afternoon, the Nation team was in for a cultural shock.

In a flash we were transported from one of the toughest US black inner-city neighbourhoods to a corner of Kenya.

All the people in the room were Kenyan and the language one heard was not just Swahili, but Kisii. Even when English was spoken, it did not come with the American drawl but distinctive Kisii accent. Even the food was traditional fare, with some twists because of the ingredient available.
Elders of the Church were just finishing of their lunch after a service and were preparing another meeting to plan their activities.

Upstairs, the younger people were holding their own meeting, and also discussing church and community matters. It was only at the younger peoples meeting that one heard various American accents ranging from the black inner city to the white mid west drawl and the cultivated Ivy League. But every so often as the conversation got animated some vernacular, or at least the accent, would break into the conversation.

Jersey City has one of the largest concentrations of Kenyan’s in the US, but what makes it most peculiar is that a large majority of them are from Kisii, turning some neighbourhoods into virtual Kisii enclaves. The particular church is in fact a branch of the Maxwell SDA Church of Nairobi’s Milimani Road.

When the Nation visited, excitement was in the air because many of those at the meeting are also actively involved at the community and local level in the Barack Obama’s campaign for the US presidency.

They shared their motivation:

RICHARD MABURI

I’m President of the Kenyan-Americans Community Association Inc in New Jersey. It’s a good year for Kenyan-Americans because we have Barack Obama running for president. He’s making history as the first African-America making a serious bid for election and he’ll make history as the first one to be elected.

He is Kenyan blood, but it is policies that motivate young people to register as voters and to join his campaign for change.

I have been working as volunteer with the campaign, making telephone calls, sending e-mails and raising funds.

There is a Kenyan-American community of at least 5,000 in New Jersey and they are all excited by Obama’s message for change. Many have given donations ranging from $5 to $500.

SHEM ONDITI

I have been voting in the US for many years. Now I am busy canvassing and helping mobilise voters for the Obama campaign. Presently I am concentrating not in the section of Jersey City where I reside, but in the neighbouring Essex County “where are many Republicans we need to win over.

I support Barack Obama because this is the chance for change. Obama is offering much more for change than McCain, and his ideas are more relevant to ordinary people. I don’t support Obama just because of the Kenyan connection or because I am a Kenyan-American. This is not a Kenyan issue; it an issue for all we Americans.

ZACHARY MOITUI

I am a high school teacher in New Jersey. I am involved in the campaign because Barack Obama is the best hope not just for African Americans but for all Americans.

This country has gone wrong in the wrong direction. The eonomy is tanking, people are losing their homes and job losses are increasing. As a Kenyan-American it is my moral duty to work for the change America needs.

We have in our organisation of school workers Union in Jersey City of 1,800 many of whom are volunteering for the Obama campaign.

On voting day, November 4, I will wake up early and go cast my vote at 6.30am. Luckily the Board of Education has given us the day of, so I will then be helping transport young people to make sure they vote.

DOUGLAS BONUKE

I am Secretary of the Kenyan-Americans Community Association and I’m involved in mobilising voters for the Obama campaign. I have been sending out e-mails, making phone calls and knocking on doors. I also compile and maintain a data bank of Kenyans we are reaching out to to become a part of this campaign for change by volunteering their time as campaign organisers.

HARON OMWAMBA

I am working with students, sensitising them on the importance of voting. We are tired of the same old things and are working towards change for the better.

WYCLIFFE MUGOYA

I am a Kenyan-American and have been in the US for 15 years. I was first attracted to Barack Obama when I watched him make the keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic Party Convention that nominated John Kerrey. I related to that and connected with him.

His views on the world are the same as mine, and I like his policies on support for young people.

The economy has done badly under George Bush and Obama represents the hope for change.

On election day I will vote early and afterwards have a party at my house.

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Submitted by Rob_Maiya
Posted octobre 24, 2008 03:11 PM

Rooting for Obama aside, I think it is fair to point out that many Kenyans abroad live in tribal enclaves and only relate to people from their communities - and end up being amazingly tribal. Few have friends from other Kenyan tribes. The same is in London as in many cities. My advice is: mingle with other people or go back to your village in Kenya if you want only your tribesmates.

Photos -- http://www.nation.co.ke/InDepth/AmericaVotes/-/464300/483220/-/item/1/-/s1ds2x/-/index.html

Ethnic violence in Kenya, post election http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,444021,00.html

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Obama campaign cites Barbara West's "unprofessional interview" with Joe Biden in canceling WFTV's interview with candidate's wife
posted by halboedeker on Oct 24, 2008 5:30:13 PM
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JoebidenstWhy did Barack Obama's campaign cancel an interview Jill Biden, wife of Sen. Joe Biden, was going to do with WFTV-Channel 9?

The campaign cited "an unprofessional interview" that WFTV's Barbara West conducted with Joe Biden (pictured) on Thursday. WFTV news director Bob Jordan has defended the interview as hard-hitting and unlike many satellite interviews where softball questions are posed.

In a statement Friday afternoon, Adrianne Marsh, Florida spokeswoman for Obama's campaign, said the station, in talking with Sen. Biden, was "both combative and woefully uninformed about simple facts."

Marsh said West's insistence that Obama was an organizer for ACORN was "100 percent false." "In a line of questioning that would make Rush Limbaugh proud, West even went as far as to quote Karl Marx, a Communist icon, in a disturbing attempt to associate Barack Obama with socialism," Marsh wrote.

"There's nothing wrong with tough questions, but reporters have the very important job of sharing the truth with the public -- not misleading the American people with false information," Marsh added. "Senator Biden handled the interview well; however, the anchor was completely unprofessional. Senator Biden's wife is not running for elected office, and there are many other stations in the Orlando television market that would gladly conduct a respectful and factual interview with her."

WFTV news director Jordan said, "When you get a shot to ask these candidates, you want to make the most of it. They usually give you five minutes."

Jordan said political campaigns in general pick and choose the stations they like. And stations often pose softball questions during the satellite interviews.

"Mr. Biden didn't like the questions," Jordan said. "We choose not to ask softball questions."

The Obama campaign earlier Friday suggested that future interviews with WFTV were unlikely before Election Day.

"I'm crying foul on this one," Jordan said.

Later, though, the campaign said it would consider future interviews WFTV.

Click here for Barbara West's reaction to the interview
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2008/10/obama-campaig-1.html