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Kenya names its babies 'Air Force One Obama'

Now, a batch of Kenyan newborn babies will be called 'Air Force One Obama' in honour of US President Barack Obama's visit to the country -- with some mothers evidently hoping their offspring will be future high-flyers.

Updated on: Jul 26, 2015 01:48 AM IST
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Now, a batch of Kenyan newborn babies will be called 'Air Force One Obama' in honour of US President Barack Obama's visit to the country -- with some mothers evidently hoping their offspring will be future high-flyers.

US President Barack Obama reviews a Kenya Defence Forces honour guard during a visit to the State House in Kenya's capital Nairobi. (Reuters Photo)
US President Barack Obama reviews a Kenya Defence Forces honour guard during a visit to the State House in Kenya's capital Nairobi. (Reuters Photo)

Already there are numerous young Barack Obamas living in Kogelo, the president's ancestral village, but soon after Obama touched down on Friday night two mothers in the western city of Kisumu took the unusual decision to name their sons after the president's jet, Air Force One.

"I have decided to call my baby Air Force One Barack Obama so that we can all remember Obama's visit to Kenya because it is a huge blessing," said Lucy Akinyi Okoth, one of the mothers.

Another, Lucy Atieno, decided to simply call her boy Air Force One.

"I have been told that it is the best aeroplane because it carries a very powerful leader of America who is also a Kenyan," she said.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Images/popup/2015/7/obama-link.jpg



Crowds of Kenyans cheer and hold a painting representing US President Barack Obama near Memorial Park, in Nairobi. Kenyans gathered in the city centre to watch Obama's convoy as it drove through Nairobi. (AFP Photo)

"Yesterday from 8.30 pm we had eight deliveries and all the babies are in a very stable condition," she said.

Three girls also each got an Obama-related name. One was named Michelle after the first lady, another was called Malia, after the couple's eldest daughter, while a third was named Malia Sasha after the two Obama girls.

"I could not call my daughter any other name," said Wilkister Anyango, who took both Obama's daughters' names for her child.

So far there are no reports of children being named after Obama's armoured limousine, popularly known as "The Beast".

Read:President Obama visits Kenya, reunites with father's family

US prez Barack Obama in Kenya: Africa is on the move

 
Get the latest headlines from US news and global updates from Pakistan, Nepal, UK, Bangladesh, Russia and US Iran war Live, get all the latest headlines in one place on Hindustan Times.
Get the latest headlines from US news and global updates from Pakistan, Nepal, UK, Bangladesh, Russia and US Iran war Live, get all the latest headlines in one place on Hindustan Times.
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