First this story from the AP.
Obama family in Kenya watches US vote
In fact, Obama's spokesman Robert Gibbs confirmed the senator spoke to opposition leader Raila Odinga for about five minutes Monday before going into a rally in New Hampshire.
Odinga, a Luo, told British Broadcasting Corp. radio that Obama's father was his uncle, and that Obama called him "in the midst of his campaigning ... to express his concern and to say that he is also going to call President Kibaki so that Kibaki agrees to find a negotiated, satisfactory solution to this problem."
Gibbs said Odinga and Obama's father are from the same tribe, though he was not aware they are related.
And now from article in the Guardian.
Fiery speaker with the populist touch
During the election, Odinga painted himself as the man who represented a change from Kenya's past leadership, but he is no political outsider. Born in 1945, he is the son of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, an independence hero who was the country's first vice-president.
And regarding Mr Odinga's political leanings
Although his opponents have portrayed him as a socialist who could damage the economy, Odinga insists the business community has nothing to fear. His manifesto policies are similar to those of Kibaki, except with regard to devolution of power, which Odinga insists is necessary to ensure an equitable distribution of wealth.
It seems that if we substituted Obama for Odinga it would be hard to tell the two apart even down to their campaign promises and style of speaking.
The comparsions even extend to the ways the press describe Obama er Odinga.
Mention the name Raila Odinga and you are met with all kinds of reactions. Some writers coined the terms 'Raila Phobia' and 'Raila Mania' to describe the sorts of reactions he gets when interacting with the public.
They even belong to the same party, Democratic.
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