Obama the favourite name for new Kenyan mothers
By ANITA CHEPKOECH, @CTAnitaSix new born babies born on Saturday at Kisumu’s Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Hospital were named after visiting US President Barack Obama.
Three mothers also named their girls after US First Lady, Michelle Obama, while another was called Sarah, the US President’s grandmother, Mama Sarah Obama.
Ms Lucy Akinyi, who named her child Barack Obama Gift, gave birth hours after President Obama landed on Friday night.
“I experienced a mild labour from 8.00 pm, and the baby arrived at 2am. I had already planned to name my baby after Obama,” Ms Akinyi said.
Another mother, Silver Auma, has already registered her baby under the name Junior Barack Obama while Ms Annette Cheptot, an Eldoret resident working in Kisumu, named her two-day old baby Junior Barack Kiprop.
OBAMA’S VISIT
“Each time I will be celebrating my baby’s birthday, I will remember that it is the day the first sitting President of US came to Kenya. It’s quite historic,” she said.
Ms Lilian Aoko, a Kisumu resident named her baby Barack Obama Ochieng with Ms Beline Awuor naming her baby Nigel Barack Obama.
Ms Lilian Achieng, who had given birth four days earlier than she expected, named her baby Michelle Maura Achieng.
“I expected to give birth on July 28th but I am glad it coincided with the arrival of President Obama. Since it was a baby girl, I decided to name her after Mr Obama’s wife Michelle,” said Ms Achieng.
Ms Ressy Josphine Anyango also called her daughter Michelle Akinyi as Ms Iren Awuor called hers Zura Ali Michelle. Only one mother, Faizah Awadhi named hers after Mama Sarah Obama.
“I like the name, it suits my Muslim religion,” she told the Daily Nation.