Walter Menya
11 September 2008
Nairobi — The Kenya rural home of US presidential hopeful Barack Obama is now under round-the-clock police protection.
This follows an attempted robbery at the Siaya homestead Tuesday night by an unknown group of people.
Four people have been arrested in connection with the incident and were due to appear in a Siaya court later Thursday, area Officer Commanding Police Divison Johnston Ipara said.
Police officers led by Mr Ipara were setting up a patrol base at the homestead due to what the OCPD said was palpable danger to the Obama family.
Two tents have been set up at the homestead where police officers will be accommodated.
Mr Ipara said that the presence of the police at the home was a temporary measure before the force puts up a permanent base at the nearby Kogelo trading centre.
"We shall have several officers at the site until the security of the family and that of the community is guaranteed."
"This was not at the behest of the Obama family alone but a response to the cries of the community as a whole because insecurity affects many people," added Mr Ipara.
The family of the Democratic presidential candidate has in the past expressed fears over their security. Previous requests for Government security went unheeded.
"I thank the government for responding to our request. The police can stay here as long as they wish; they are most welcome," said Mama Sarah.
Mama Sarah said she did not understand the motive of the raid because the attackers only took away a security light bulb.
"I have never had this experience before and the police presence here is now reassuring."
The gang is believed to have been behind several break-ins at the Kogelo trading centre the same night where several shops were attacked.
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If a private printer produced legal tender bills and secretly and under cover of darkness, went to serialize them at DELARUE, would they not be keen to remove Mrs. mwatela from the Central bank? How would that affect inflation, and would that not lead us to advice employers not to raise wages to stem the inflation that results from printing billions of kenya shillings and laundering them into the business thirsty commercial banks. No wonder individuals have inexplicable accounts that would make bill gates envious.