A day to the US  presidential elections, residents of Nyang'oma Kogelo in Siaya district are upbeat that senator Barrack Obama is likely to become the next US president.

Obama, a Democratic Party candidate who has maintained a steady lead against his Republican Party rival John McCain is son to a Kenyan Father from Kogelo village and an American Mother.

In the final weekend before the polls there was a horde of activities as friends and relatives trooped Obama's ancestral home to show unison and offer prayers to their son who is on his last stretch towards clinching the most powerful office in the world.

Despite some family members being apprehensive about the press, Obama's grandmother, Sarah Onyango Obama is full of praise for her grandson.

" Obama is God's gift to the world, and many people from various parts of the world have confirmed this to me", says an elated grandmother.

Constantly surrounded by relatives who would not wish to see her go overboard, Sarah is careful not to kick off an early celebration, despite all indications that the US democratic candidate is currently ahead of war veteran John Mc Cain among early voters.

 "An expectant mother can not begin celebrating birth of a child before it is born", she says with a big smile.

The matriarch compares the current US presidential elections to a football match which is not yet over, despite one team leading the other.

 "If it happens that our son wins, come back here on Wednesday and you will witness the whole village in dancing frenzy", says Mrs. Obama.

The elderly lady believes Barrack Obama will bring hope to many poor people in the world from the fact that he is very welcoming, considerate and non partisan when approaching conflicts.

 " This", she says, "he has demonstrated by mixing even with the lowly and by supporting social groups which help the orphaned and those ravaged with Aids in the region".

Two years ago when Barrack Obama came to Kenya, he made a point of visiting and comforting patients at the Nyanza provincial general hospital, where he also called upon governments to increase budgetary support in war against Malaria.

Commenting on a number of distinguished guests who have visited her home during the last two years, Sarah Obama says her grandchild had made her so popular adding that she is so humbled to have such a person in the family, especially if he wins the presidential seat.

She recounts that her son, Barrack Obama senior always came home with many friends, and that the senator had inherited this characteristic from his father.

"Lwedo ma amoso go wend Nyakwara an go", meaning I have a hand to shake and welcome my grandsons' visitors to the home, says Mrs Obama.

Though an Obama victory could mean a great change of fortune for the granny, Sarah Obama insists that she will not migrate to the United States.

"Home is home and remains the best place for a person of my age" she says

As the clock ticks, so does the heartbeat of many Kenyans waiting for Tuesday's poll.