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Obama's Kenyan Clan Adjusts to Fame

Media, security forces, and opportunists descend on Kenyan village

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 22, 2008 6:27 AM CST

(Newser) – The election of Barack Obama has changed the lives of his Kenyan relatives forever, the Los Angeles Times reports. Roughly 400 people in western Kenya can claim kinship to the president-elect, and the clan is attracting huge amounts of attention from the world's media and from fellow Kenyans. Their village now boasts a new road, its first power line—and a new police station.

Security could be a major issue for the Obamas, say experts who wonder if Kenyan police are up to the job. The Obamas, prosperous by local standards, are also struggling with their new world image as poor relations—and with the notion that they might be looking for a hand-out. "We support Barack, but we have no expectations," said Obama's half-sister Auma.

[Images (5)]

[Videos (1)]

[Quotes (2)]

Malik, center, the half-brother of Barack Obama, celebrates with friends and family members at the family's homestead in Kogelo village, Kenya, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Barack Obama's step-grandmother, center, laughs as she gives a news conference at the family's homestead in Kogelo village, Kenya, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Members of Barack Obama's extended family react as election results come in, at the family's homestead in Kogelo village, Kenya, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Women walk past a sign for Senator Obama Kogelo school in Kogelo village, Kenya, Monday, Nov. 3, 2008. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Barack Obama claps hands with his grandmother, Sarah Hussein Obama, at his father's house in Nyongoma Kogelo village in western Kenya, Aug. 26, 2006. (AP Photo/Sayyid Azim)

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Obama's election brings big changes to Kenyan village. (kenyacitizentv)

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We support Barack, but we have no expectations. We have not lacked and don't expect to lack in anything.
- Auma Obama, Barack Obama's half-sister and family spokesperson

Dealing with all this, it's been like a full-time job.
- Said Obama, Barack Obama's uncle

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Obama's Kenyan Clan Adjusts to Fame