What if Obama had stood against Kibaki?

The news this week was the historical election of Barack Obama as the first African-American President of the United States of America. Obama’s election ended the 72-year-old John McCain’s battle for the White House. But because McCain does not live in Africa, he humbled himself and conceded defeat. He urged all Americans to rally behind the new president. Obama is very popular not only in US. His sweeping victory to become president of the United States has made Africans love him even more. In Kenya, it was an election victory that sparked off a spontaneous burst of joy and wild celebration. Here, legislators, politicians and diplomats stayed up nearly the entire night as they waited for the final announcement of the election results. Villagers from Kogelo where Obama’s father lived took to the streets. They danced, sang, slaughtered bulls, goats and waved American flags. “I’m so happy, I don’t know if I’ll die of happiness,”Sarah Onyango Obama, Barack 86-year-old step-grandmother was quoted saying. As the nation celebrated his victory -- Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki took it to another level and declared Thursday a public holiday. But what if Obama has stood against President Kibaki in last year’s Kenyan presidential elections? One thing could have happened. Obama could have defeated Kibaki but the incumbent would have found it hard to concede defeat. What would Kibaki have done then? Since incumbents in Africa do not quit easily, there is a possibility that Kibaki would have disputed the elections and demanded for a re-run and finally snatch it from Obama. He could also send soldiers to the streets and beat up Obama’s supporters demonstrating against him. And since he is a democrat, Obama would be left with one option of sitting back and watching while Kibaki is taking oath of office for his second term. To date, Raila Odinga’s supporters still claim their man won last year’s election but Kibaki took it a way from them. Kibaki claimed a dramatic, come-from-behind victory over challenger Odinga in the tightest presidential race in Kenya’s history. Odinga, his many supporters and even international observers question Kibaki’s victory. Odinga called the election results bogus and said Kibaki should have conceded. Who says Kibaki would have allowed Obama to eat his thing? Contact: Ssuuna2000@yahoo.co.uk