THE OBAMAS CAUSE A STIR IN A HONOLULU RESTAURANT

DAILY NATION
NAIROBI, KENYA
December 29 2008

HAWAII, Monday

Barack Obama, trying to enjoy the last semblance of normal life before he becomes US president on January 20, caused a commotion when he took his daughters to a shopping mall in Hawaii.

It made for a surreal scene – the president-elect, daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, and family friends eating at a table at the mall watched by a crowd of onlookers and surrounded by anxious-looking Secret Service agents.

The agents struggled to hold back people trying to get closer to snap pictures of Mr Obama eating a tuna and melted cheese sandwich and the girls enjoying shave ices, a local treat made from finely shaved ice and fruit syrup.

Earlier, as Mr Obama strolled through a mall parking lot, dozens of onlookers swarmed around, snapping pictures and cheering while Secret Service agents tried to keep a protective screen around the soon-to-be first family.

In interviews since his election on November 4, Mr Obama has said he wants to maintain some degree of normal life for his daughters. He has also said he fears becoming isolated and losing touch with the world outside the White House “bubble.”

But such family outings are likely to become rare after he enters office and the already strict security measures that surround him now are intensified.

Mr Obama has kept a low profile since arriving on the Hawaiian island of Oahu for a 12-day holiday with his family on December 20. Apart from two golf outings and daily trips to the gym, he has remained sequestered in his beachfront holiday villa.

Media travelling with him have been barred from approaching the heavily guarded house, whose access road has been blocked. That did not stop one enterprising paparazzi photographer from snapping Obama shirtless on the beach earlier this week.

After exercising at a gym at a nearby Marine Corps base, he made a surprise visit to a waterpark with his daughters and several other children for a dolphin show. It was his first public outing with his family since arriving on the island. His wife Michelle did not accompany them. (Reuters)

COMMENTS:
Submitted by George Kimathi
Posted December 31, 2008 07:28 PM

Hei fellow Kenyans stop beeing so negative on comments instead come up with ideas and advices to the Governments, who knows they can be implemented!After all what do you gain from your negativity? A fat bank account fame or? Think twice before you type your comments.

Submitted by nzaku
Posted December 31, 2008 03:14 AM

Poor Kenyans. You think Airforce One will land in Kisumu? The man never even attended his grandmother's burial in Hawaii. Why are you wasting money on a runaway instead of improving our roads? Mtangoja sana.

Submitted by kevo3415
Posted December 31, 2008 02:36 AM

When Obama will step in Kenya definitely Kibaki will announce it again as a Holiday(Obama visit Kenya Day)And that day all offices will be closed instantly.All roads to Kogelo au sio watu wangu?

Submitted by wuod_aketch
Posted December 30, 2008 02:27 PM

Is Kisumu airport runway long enough to allow Airforce One to land on it, or have the Chinese, who have been given the contract, made it too short?

Submitted by babumarjan
Posted December 30, 2008 12:37 PM

jkaruga The R does not mean Republican, it means RIGHT as opposed to LEFT. That is where he is positioned in the photo!

Submitted by Isaya Baraza
Posted December 30, 2008 12:05 PM

A Kenyan can be a President in any country he/she feels like. Kenyans are highly rated worldwide.

Submitted by Hillaryio
Posted December 30, 2008 11:10 AM

I am just imagining how things will be when he set his foot in Kenya! "Obama wetu", "Obama damu", "Obama unbwogable",