Kenyans celebrate Obama victory

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka said Obama's victory heralds a new dawn in history of America and in relations between America and other nations of the world.

"It is exciting for Kenya not only because of continental attachment to president-elect because of his roots in Kenya but because Obama victory is a harbinger of good tidings especially for our tourism sector."

The VP said many Americans would now wish to visit country of the father of their new president.

He said never before has a U.S. presidential candidate been widely supported across the world. "This means Obama's leadership of US is likely to bring world nations closer and bridge polarization that currently exist." he said.

The remarks came as a party kicked off early Wednesday at the U.S. ambassador's residence in the Kenyan capital, attended by journalists, members of the diplomatic corps and top government officials.

Kenyan Nobel Laureate Prof. Wangari Maathai said she would plant a tree in commemoration of an Obama victory.

"I want to remember his victory by a tree," the veteran environmentalist who was recognized for her role in fighting forest depletion in the country said.

Water Minister Charity Ngilu had a plan lined up. "Today I am going to see that we can ensure that our rivers are protected," she said.

Assistant Minister for roads Lee Kinyanjui said: "It is a historic moment for all of us in a big way and the mood here is ecstatic."

Barack Obama, the 47 year-old senator from Illinois, has endured a grueling 21 month-long campaign where he trounced former first lady Hillary Clinton for the Democratic vote.

Kenyans have followed the election campaigns keenly with the hope that an Obama win would bring good tidings.

"I will probably do something that I have not done for some time like buy new clothes," said Daniel Obonyo when asked what he would do if Senator Obama won the polls. Senator Obama said his election was the answer to all those who doubted the United States was capable of such a step.

Obama captured the key battleground states of Pennsylvania and Ohio, before passing the essential figure of 270 electoral college votes at 0400 GMT, when projections showed he had also taken California and a slew of other states.

Then came the news that he had also seized Florida, Virginia and Colorado - all of which voted Republican in 2004 - turning swathes of the map from red to blue.

Several other key swing states are hanging in the balance.

In Indiana and North Carolina, with most of the vote counted, there was less than 0.5 percentage points between the two candidates.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei