Malik Obama Runs For Governor in Kenya

Impact

Malik Obama, a half-brother of President Barack Obama, is running for a governor's position in Kenya's national elections on Monday — reported The Associated Press

"I'm going into it as Malik Obama," Obama's half-brother said told the AP from western Kenya. "I can't run away from my name and association with my brother, but I have the feeling that people somewhat want to see who the brother of Obama is," he added. 

And the president's Kenyan half-brother is even using the same slogan that Obama used in 2008: change. "I hope that you all out there will support me and vote for me for this important position so that we can bring change to the county of Siaya," Malik Obama reportedly said while campaigning.  

The 54-year-old Malik Obama hopes to become the first governor of Kenya's western county of Siaya. He is running as an underdog independent against establishment candidates who are from well-funded parties. 

Monday is Kenya's first nationwide election since 2007, when voting led to an eruption of tribal violence that killed more than 1,000 people and displaced 600,000 from their homes.