Kenneth Ogosia
4 November 2008
Nairobi — Hotels in Nairobi on Tuesday night said they were prepared to host victory parties for city residents after the announcement of the US Presidential election results.
At the Carnivore, however, celebrations kicked off Tuesday night with a special vigil. People partied as they waited for Wednesday 5am, when the results of the election are expected to be out.
National Bank of Kenya which coincidentally holds its 40th anniversary celebrations on Friday, will capture the mood of the moment when they host a mammoth party at the same venue.
Greatest day
NBK managing director Reuben Marambii told journalists that his bank planned to celebrate together with Mr Obama during his greatest day.
"Ours is a 40th anniversary and Obama is 48 but we will celebrate our achievements at the same time," Mr Marambii said.
Some hotels however, were keeping their fingers crossed, preferring to organise functions after the results were out.
The general manager of Laico Regency, Mr Solomon Adede said the hotel was planning a special function on Friday if Mr Obama wins.
"We don't want to put the cart before the horse. Our prayer is that he wins and then we do something big," Mr Adede said.
At Hilton, Serena, Panafric, Marble Arch, Heron and other high class hotels, managers were adopting a wait-and-see attitude.
No such plans
Ms Lucy Wairimu of Marble Arch said she would rather leave everything to fate.
Ms Fari Gatora of Hilton said: "We have no such plans to the best of my knowledge. Guests have television sets in their rooms from where they can follow the elections."
At Safari Park hotel, public relations manager Mercy Wanjala expressed similar sentiments, simply saying: "Let's wait for the results please."
Ms Grace Mwangi of Heron hotel said she could not count her chickens before they hatched.
Mr Mwingirwa Kithure of Pan Afric hotel confirmed the views of other hotel managers.
However Nairobi residents were last night waiting with bated breath for the results.
Lawyer Phillip Murgor said this he believed Kenya and Africa were on the verge of getting the best New Year gift ever.
Sheer pleasure
"We did not celebrate New Year in Kenya and it is just two months to next year so it will be a moment of sheer pleasure for us," he said.
Mr Murgor, who carries a photograph he took with Mr Obama during the Illinois senator's visit to Kenya in 2006, said all Kenyans wished Mr Obama well.
Kenyan civil servants said since Mr Obama Snr was a Government worker, they would name their headquarters after him, Union of Kenya Civil Servants secretary general Mr Tom Odege said.
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