AfricaNews monitoring desk
An airport in the west of the Kenya is to be upgraded for Air Force One in case Barack Obama wins the US elections. Kenyan MPs are hopeful that the Democratic candidate would win and might want to visit his father's hometown one day during his tenure of office as US president.
Obama's father was born in Nyanza Province. The BBC said the Illinois senator is a local hero in his father's homeland, where a local beer has been named after him. Obama has never lived in Kenya and he has visited just three times. He would face Republican John McCain in the 4 November elections.
Kisumu Town MP Aluoch Olago told parliament that the delay in the airport's expansion was a major concern, the Nairobi Star reported. Obama's father was from Alego-Kogello village which is 60km (37 miles) from Kisumu.
Transport Minister Chirau Mwakwere said the airport's expansion programme was behind schedule, and is expected to be complete by July 2010.
