KOGELO, Kenya (AFP) — Thousands of Kenyans and tourists paused in rapturous devotion Tuesday in the African village where Barack Obama's father was born as the new US President took his oath.
"Now we are sure that he really did win and is the President of the United States. Before this moment, it was hard to even imagine," said Julius Omondi, a 21-year-old resident of Kogelo, moments after Obama was sworn in.
The party started four days ago in the little village of western Kenya but the crowd of more 3,000 -- three times its population -- stepped briefly into suspended animation before breaking back into song and dance as the historic moment arrived.
Watching the Washington ceremony on a giant screen surrounded by a message reading "Congratulations, our son, our hope," Josephine Awuor, 30, said Obama's accession to the world's most powerful office had changed her life.
"I want to pray for a long and productive life for Obama as president. We the people of Kogelo, our minds and our eyes are now open because now we don't feel so small, we don't feel of so small value anymore," she said.
As the world tuned in to the inauguration ceremony, Kenyans who took a day off work and donned their best clothes to come from all around the Lake Victoria region cheered at each of Obama's appearances on live television -- while groups of students brandished their shoes when George W. Bush flashed up onto their giant screen.
"I'm from Kogelo and this is a happy day. This is an incredible opportunity for us, because a lot of investment will come," said 20-year-old Faith Achieng.
"It's already thanks to him we have electricity and water."
A festival kicked off last week in the usually sleepy Rift Valley village which residents now like to describe as "the local capital of the world."
Revellers engaged in traditional dances from Obama's Luo tribe as others waved US flags. A football match was also organised as celebrations spanned the entire day.
"The atmosphere is so colourful, it's like Christmas has come to Kogelo a second time," said Joseph Oluoko, who works in the village.
Several tourists changed their safari plans to be in Kogelo, where the crowd outnumbered the revellers who had gathered for Obama's November 4 election triumph against John McCain.
"It is a very very special day for me, maybe the most special after marrying my wife," said Clyde Partin, a retiree from Ohio on a holiday in Kenya.
"Obama is going to bring Kenya and the United States together and break down those walls separating black from white and nation from nation.
"I have great hope that he and his administration will do some great things. I am standing on history, right here in Kogelo. God blessed me to be here," the 64-year-old added.
Obama's step-grandmother Sarah and most of the new US President's other close relatives still living in the village were in Washington for the inauguration.
Television screens were organised in town halls, bars and restaurants all over the East African country, with a Nairobi theatre premiering a musical on Obama's life and several night clubs booked up for "inauguration nights."
"There is a sense of pride obviously because he's half Kenyan. But as well, America has a bad image outside and I think he can do a lot to help America," said Jessy, a 25-year-old woman jobhunter joining hundreds of others watching in a capital conference centre.
At Nairobi University, some 2,000 people gathered to watch the ceremony, cheering and ululating as Obama took the oath.
When the footage focused on Bush, the students broke into an impromptu mimickry of the Iraqi journalist who hurled his shoes at the outgoing US president during a press conference in Baghdad last month.
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