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| Barack Obama's half-brother fails to win seat in Kenyan elections | Barack Obama's half-brother fails to win seat in Kenyan elections |
| (10 days later) | |
| No he can't. The half-brother of Barack Obama found that sharing a surname with the world's most powerful man was not enough to avoid a trouncing in Kenya's elections. | No he can't. The half-brother of Barack Obama found that sharing a surname with the world's most powerful man was not enough to avoid a trouncing in Kenya's elections. |
| Malik Obama notched a meagre 2,792 votes in the race to be governor of Siaya, his home county in the west of the country. He finished about 140,000 behind the winner. | Malik Obama notched a meagre 2,792 votes in the race to be governor of Siaya, his home county in the west of the country. He finished about 140,000 behind the winner. |
| Malik Obama, 54, had promised change that, in the end, not enough people believed in. It was a manifesto that included reducing poverty, building infrastructure, industrialising and bringing American chains such as McDonald's to his neglected rural area. | Malik Obama, 54, had promised change that, in the end, not enough people believed in. It was a manifesto that included reducing poverty, building infrastructure, industrialising and bringing American chains such as McDonald's to his neglected rural area. |
| The defeated candidate, who stands 1.95 metres (6ft 4ins) tall, was born to the same Kenyan father as the US president but a different mother. Campaigning under the slogan "Obama here, Obama there", he claimed that as governor he would have a "direct line to the White House". | The defeated candidate, who stands 1.95 metres (6ft 4ins) tall, was born to the same Kenyan father as the US president but a different mother. Campaigning under the slogan "Obama here, Obama there", he claimed that as governor he would have a "direct line to the White House". |
| But running as an independent, he was up against candidates from established parties and apparently lacked resources to compete. | But running as an independent, he was up against candidates from established parties and apparently lacked resources to compete. |
| "I'm going into it as Malik Obama," he told Associated Press before last week's polls. "I can't run away from my name and association with my brother, but I have the feeling that people somewhat want to see who the brother of Obama is." | "I'm going into it as Malik Obama," he told Associated Press before last week's polls. "I can't run away from my name and association with my brother, but I have the feeling that people somewhat want to see who the brother of Obama is." |
| It might not have been Grant Park, Chicago, in 2008, but local officials tried to be upbeat about his election performance. Benson Mughatsia, returning officer for Siaya county, said: "He was not the winner but at least he competed. He was not last but he was still a long way off." | It might not have been Grant Park, Chicago, in 2008, but local officials tried to be upbeat about his election performance. Benson Mughatsia, returning officer for Siaya county, said: "He was not the winner but at least he competed. He was not last but he was still a long way off." |
| Contacted by the Guardian on Monday, Malik Obama said only: "I'm sorry I'm not speaking to any journalists today, thank you." He then hung up. | Contacted by the Guardian on Monday, Malik Obama said only: "I'm sorry I'm not speaking to any journalists today, thank you." He then hung up. |
| Obama, who describes himself as a financial adviser, was contesting a newly created position. Kenya's 2010 constitution created 47 political divisions known as counties, to be headed by governors. | Obama, who describes himself as a financial adviser, was contesting a newly created position. Kenya's 2010 constitution created 47 political divisions known as counties, to be headed by governors. |
| This is not the end of his political ambitions, as he may yet seek to emulate his younger half-brother by running for president. He told Britain's Mail on Sunday newspaper that Barack had been encouraging: "Back in 2011, when I told him about my plans, he said to go for it. His only advice was that I should be honest, sincere – and to have a thick skin." | This is not the end of his political ambitions, as he may yet seek to emulate his younger half-brother by running for president. He told Britain's Mail on Sunday newspaper that Barack had been encouraging: "Back in 2011, when I told him about my plans, he said to go for it. His only advice was that I should be honest, sincere – and to have a thick skin." |
| Malik Obama, a Muslim, also told the paper that he and Barack were best man at each other's weddings and remain in regular contact; he has lived in Washington since 1985 and divides his time between there and Kenya. "I see my brother privately at least once a year, when I go to visit him in the White House and say hello." | Malik Obama, a Muslim, also told the paper that he and Barack were best man at each other's weddings and remain in regular contact; he has lived in Washington since 1985 and divides his time between there and Kenya. "I see my brother privately at least once a year, when I go to visit him in the White House and say hello." |
| Barack Obama has several relatives in Kenya including his 90-year-old step-grandmother, Mama Sarah, who greeted his victory in last year's presidential election by saying: "It is God's plan and, most of all, he is an outstanding gentleman." | Barack Obama has several relatives in Kenya including his 90-year-old step-grandmother, Mama Sarah, who greeted his victory in last year's presidential election by saying: "It is God's plan and, most of all, he is an outstanding gentleman." |
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