I know its long but honestly.. Has anyone ever read an interview that was so biased?

Candidate Obama's Sense Of Urgency
Dem. Says He's Not In A Hurry To Run, But Wants To Tackle Problems - (CBS)

One thing you can say with certainty about Illinois Sen. Barack Obama is that there has never been another presidential candidate like him. He has a foreign sounding name that rhymes with "Osama," his middle name is Hussein, and he has admitted to using marijuana and cocaine as a teenager. Racially he is half black, half white, and in terms of political experience, green. With just seven years in the state legislature, and two in the United States Senate, it would be easy to dismiss him, were it not for the fact that he is running second in the polls behind Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination. On Saturday, 17,000 people braved frigid weather to watch him declare his candidacy in Springfield Ill., where correspondent Steve Kroft joined him on the eve of his speech.

"Three years ago, you were a state legislator here in Springfield. What makes you think that you're qualified to be president of the United States?" Kroft asks.
"You know, I think we're in a moment of history where probably the most important thing we need to do is to bring the country together and one of the skills that I bring to bear is being able to pull together the different strands of American life and focus on what we have in common," Obama replies Obama says he has no doubts that he's ready to run. Asked where he gets all this confidence, the senator jokes, "My wife asks me that all the time. As he gave 60 Minutes a tour of the old Illinois capitol where Abraham Lincoln served in the legislature and delivered the House Divided speech, there was much for Obama to be confident about. At age 45, he is one of only three black senators since Reconstruction, the first African-American President of the Harvard Law Review, a professor of constitutional law at the University of Chicago, and the author of two best selling books. He is ambitious and just daring enough to invite comparisons to one of the few American presidents, who was elected with even less political experience than he has: Abraham Lincoln. "He grew into the presidency in ways that I think no body would have anticipated," Obama tells Kroft. "I know I haven't spent a lot of time learning the ways of Washington. But I've been there long enough to know that the ways of Washington must change," the senator told the crowd during his announcement speech. On Saturday in Springfield he began a campaign that seems to have morphed out of his latest book tour. Propelled by the media hungry for a fresh face and a good story, he has graced the covers of Time and Newsweek, the pages of Men’s Vogue, and has been endorsed by Oprah. But it has also been driven by his personal charisma and an ability to connect with people, especially young people, that is rarely seen in American politics. He has challenged the post baby boom generation to cast aside its cynicism of politics and engage the system. In a speech at George Mason University earlier this month, he evoked Martin Luther King. "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice. It bends towards justice," he told the students. "But here’s the thing, young people, it doesn't bend on its own. It bends in that direction because you decide you're gonna stand up to a war that should have never been waged. It bends because you decide that we need a healthcare system for all Americans." On the campaign trail he is routinely received like a rock star, a far cry from the way he is treated in the corridors of power in Washington, where he is 88th on the Senate’s list of seniority. "I wanna read you a quote from The St. Petersburg Times. 'The world is too complex and dangerous for this likeable, charismatic, African American neophyte to practice on-the-job training,'" Kroft reads. Asked why he is in such a hurry to run, Obama tells Kroft, "You know the truth is I'm not. We have a narrow window to solve some of the problems that we face. Ten years from now, we may not be in a position to recover the sense of respect around the world that we've lost over the last six years. Certainly, when you look at our energy policy and environment and the prospects of climate change, we’ve gotta make some decisions right now. And so I feel a sense of urgency for the country."

He is a left-of-center Democrat who favors abortion rights, universal healthcare and wants to roll back tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. He is the only major presidential candidate who opposed the Iraq war before it began and wants to withdraw most U.S. troops by March 2008. He would redeploy some of them to Afghanistan, keep others in the region to protect strategic U.S. interests. Asked if he would talk to Iran and Syria, Obama says, "Yes. The notion that this administration has that not talking to our enemies is effective punishment is wrong. It flies in the face of our experience during the Cold War. And Ronald Reagan understood that it may be an evil empire, but it’s worthwhile for us to periodically meet to see are there areas of common interest." In the Senate he has shown a talent and a willingness to reach across party lines and work with Republicans and conservatives to build consensus. He says it is an essential trait for a president and considers it one of his strengths, the product of an unconventional childhood. He was born in 1961 to a father from Kenya and a mother from Kansas, who were both students in Hawaii at a time when black/white marriages were illegal in half the states. His father left when he was two, and eventually returned to Africa. And as a young boy, Obama spent four years living with his mother and her second husband in Indonesia before returning home to live with his maternal grandparents in Honolulu. As a black child in a white family, he struggled with his racial identity. "How important is race in defining yourself?" Kroft asks. "I am rooted in the African-American community. But I'm not defined by it. I am comfortable in my racial identity. But that's not all I am," he says. "You were raised in a white household…. Yet at some point, you decided that you were black?" Kroft asks. "Well, I'm not sure I decided it. I think, you know, if you look African-American in this society, you're treated as an African-American. And when you’re a child in particular, that is how you begin to identify yourself," Obama explains. While he graduated with honors from Columbia and Harvard Law, he says the most valuable part of his education was the three years he spent on the south side of Chicago, earning $13,000 a year as a community organizer for a group of churches. It was Obama's first real experience with urban politics and the problems of the inner city. Yet for some African-Americans, he remains an outsider, an immigrant’s son not the descendant of slaves. "There are African-Americans who don't think that you're black enough, who don't think that you have had the required experience," Kroft remarks. "The truth of the matter is, you know, when I'm walking down the south side of Chicago and, visiting my barbershop, and playing basketball in some of these neighborhoods, those aren't those aren't questions I get asked," Obama says. "They think you're black," Kroft asks. "As far as they can tell, yeah. I also notice when I'm catching a cab, nobody's confused about that either," he says. He doesn’t like it, but it’s something he had to come to terms with a long time ago.

Obama does think the U.S. is ready for a black president and he doesn't think his race is going to hold him back. "I think if I don't win this race it will be because of other factors. It's gonna be because I have not shown to the American people a vision for where the country needs to go that they can embrace," he tells Kroft. "There's one poll that shows Hillary Clinton is leading 53 to 27 among African-Americans," Kroft says. "Are you surprised by that? Are you disappointed by that?" "Not at all," Obama says. "I think that there is a assumption on the part of some commentators that somehow, the black community is so unsophisticated that the minute you put an African-American face up on the screen, that they automatically say, 'That's our guy.' A black candidate has to earn black votes the same way that he's gotta earn white votes. And that's exactly how it should be." And he has done it in Chicago, where he began his political career after meeting and marrying Michelle Robinson, another Harvard Law School graduate, 14 years ago. She is an executive with the University of Chicago Hospitals, and they have two children Malia, who’s eight and Sasha, five. His daughters are interested in their father’s campaign only to the extent that it influences their campaign to get a dog. Their only memory of the White House when they made the tour was President Bush's dog, so that was their main focus—the possibility," Obama tells Kroft. "This is our in—to get a dog," his wife Michelle adds. "Good. Really. You run for president. But, if we get a dog, we don't care what you do." Michelle, on the other hand, did care and Obama had to persuade his wife to let him run. Political campaigns make her feel like a single mother. Asked if it has put strains on the marriage from time to time, Michelle Obama says, sarcastically, "Oh-nooooo." "Absolutely it has," her husband adds. "But, you'd let him go ahead and do this?" Kroft asks Michelle Obama. "I think if I weren't married to him, I'd want him to be in there," she says. "So, I don't wanna stand in the way of that, because we have to work out a few things. So, we've kind of, you know, we figured out those, we've had those arguments, and…" she says. "And, I've lost them all," the senator throws in. "This is a tough question to ask, but a number of years ago Colin Powell was thinking about running for president, and his wife Alma, really did not want him to run. She was worried about some crazy person, with a gun…. Is that something that you think about?" Kroft asks. "I don't lose sleep over it because the realities are that, you know, as a black man Barack can get shot going to the gas station, so, you can't make decisions based on fear and the possibility of what might happen. We just weren't raised that way," she says.

And there are other concerns: the loss of privacy and people poking around in their closets looking for skeletons. Obama has already opened the door on a few. "I want to ask you a question about your past. I mean, you've been very frank in your books, with particularly the first book, with your language," Kroft remarks, laughing. "Yeah. Don't quote those on-air, or you'll get fined," Obama replies. In his book, he wrote that when he was in high school and in college he smoked marijuana and inhaled. He also wrote that he did a little "blow"—as he put it—when he could afford it. Asked to explain why he did that, Obama says, "Well, you know, I think it was typical of a teenager who was confused about who he was and what his place in the world was, and thought that experimenting with drugs was a way to rebel. It's not something that I'm proud of." But the senator says he does not regret being so candid. "You know, I don't. I mean, I think one of the things about national politics is this attempt to airbrush your life. And it's exhausting, right, you know. 'This is who I am. This is where I've come from.' And you know, if we have problems in this campaign, I suspect it's not gonna be because of mistakes I've made in the past. I think it's gonna be mistakes that I make in the future," he tells Kroft. Until recently, he did admit to still having one vice, but he was forced to give it up as the quid pro quo for running: smoking. His wife Michelle says she "hates" smoking. "That's why he doesn't do it anymore. I'm proud to say. I outed him on—I'm the one to out him on the smoking. That was one of my prerequisites for, you know, entering into this race. Is that, you know, he couldn't be a smoking president," she explains. Of his smoking habit and the effort to quit, the senator says, "It's like a recovering, it’s like an alcoholic." "He's gonna have a lot of people watching," Kroft says. "Absolutely. Please, America, watch," Michelle Obama says, laughing. "Keep an eye on him, and call me if you see him smoking." It’s not the only thing people will be watching for over the next two years. It’s the beginning of a long examination in which every utterance will be scrutinized, every speech dissected, every gaffe and foible magnified for close inspection to determine whether he is up to the task. It's possible that, you know, after we go through this whole process that the voters conclude: 'You know what. He's not ready.' And I respect that," Obama says. "I don't expect that simply because I can move people in speeches that that automatically qualifies me for this job. I think that I have to be tested and run through the paces, and I have to earn this job."



** Now you're in the public comment zone. What follows is not CBS News stuff; it comes from other people and we don't vouch for it (my favorite part :)
I really miss Ed Bradley, especially after seeing this waste of an interview. Maybe he would have brought some sensitivity to this interview. Even caustic Andy Rooney could have done a better job. Seventy percent of the time Kroft was asking questions about race. It was infuriating. By the end of the interview, I felt nauseous. I wanted to hear an interview with hard hitting questions about what Obama thought concerning Iraq, the economy, health care, education, stem cell research or any number of issues. “Sixty Minutes” should fire Kroft immediately and he should have his journalism license revoked for life. A fifth grader could have asked more thought-provoking questions than this race obsessed dimwit.

I don't think I have ever viewed a more slanted, and offensive interview before on a TV news magazine. Mr. Kroft simply had the motives to try to make the entire interview all about Obama's race instead of focusing on all of his qualifications and platform he has for the country. Asking such ignorant questions like "what race do you choose", "what would you do if he was shot", are ignorant. Moreover, to use a slanted statistic which stated 53% of Black Americans would vote for Clinton over Obama, is very misleading because he did not mention what the sample size were, and the date of this survey. For all we know, this survey could have been conducted way before Obama declared his run. Quite frankly, I never plan on watching 60 minutes ever again since it is obviously acceptable to their station to air overly racially motivated interviews. Moreover, it appears that not only 60 minutes, but also the evening program with Couric is just as bad because she decides to talk about Howard from Australia slamming Obama without even playing Obama's rebuttal. So clearly that station is unfairly portraying Obama in a negative light, and then painting Clinton to be some sort of saint for the Democrats. In my opinion, the views of Mr. Kroft and Katie Couric did not represent as many people as they're attempting to brainwash. If I wanted to watch such a racially motivated interview, I would tune into Fox News.

Well his wife is hot. How long, if ever, have we ever had a hot first lady? Not since Jackie and even she was a bit brittle.

Rhymes with Osama----are you serious?! Kroft (or whomever wrote that) needs to apologize for that one. Seriously. No guessing what his agenda is. In one sentence he linked Obama with 2 of Americans biggest enemies. Whatever happened to good journalism?

When did you decide you were black? Are you kidding me? I can understand somebody asking this question out of ignorance. What I do not understand is how a question like that makes it through the editorial process onto a prestigious news program. Did no one stop and think about how offensive that question is? While some of us may choose to identify with a particular set of cultural norms, we can no more choose our race than our height. By asking the Senator when he decided to be black, Kroft implied that Obama is somehow not legitimately African American; as if he woke up one day and decided to stop being white. I just hope Kroft realizes the ignorance that such a question reveals.

I as an African American was a bit insulted by your interview with Senator Obama. Does he not deserve the right to be judged by his character, not just the color of his skin? I am interested in his position on the issues that I face as an American. The future of this country is too important to emphasize solely on his skin complexion. Too much focus was placed on his race; it is obvious by the skin color where he fits in. My children have a stake in the future and if Obama using a different perspective than “same ol same ol” politics that have us stuck in a bad war, increased deficit, and given us less medical coverage than the citizens of Cuba; let him do the work. President Bush had very little experience, which did not affect his bid for the white house, just because his daddy did it first was enough to get him in. In my opinion if Hillary Clinton had a different last name and her husbands back to piggyback on she would not have the position in the “polls” she has. I believe this country needs a change to improve the chances for this nation to regain its position as a leading nation not a hated nation by so many. African Americans in this country are interested in the all issues not only black issues. Go Obama!

Clearly some media outlets have veered to racial overtone and hate rather than focus on the issues that are of significance to the American people. Have some of the media outlets all of a sudden forgotten that the greatness of America is based on immigrants besides the Native Americans? It is best that some of these outlets cover real issues, not infinitesimal foreign names and race (white, black, yellow, brown etc). When GW Bush declared his candidacy for president, these same media outlets where there but never bothered to question Bush’s race, foreignness of name and inexperience. Why not? Isn’t something wrong here? Why is it hard for these media outlets to join the other respected ones in covering issues the presidential aspirants (democrats and republicans alike) have to address? Let us not forget that the greatness and pride of American is intertwined with its roots from Europe, Africa and Asia. So, let us fairly embrace every talented American, regardless of race, name, experience etc who wants to serve our country as president.

It is up to the news media to HELP keep this election on track. Please don't try and divert the public from the real issues!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a black black day....
Wasiwasi

Women for Obama

My wise friend (who incidentally is called Wisdom) once said "if you dont have a good wife behind you, you cant be succesful". Hmm.. very insightful. Now that puts Obama steps ahead of Clinton does'nt it? The way I see it, if Obama cant get the job done (which he can), then he gets the vote just for being set up for success - a president is only as good as his counsel.
Michelle gave this speech at a 'women for Obama' event in April, with support like this who can go wrong?

Michelle Obama:
This is just a wonderful event. The more I go out, the more I realize that there is something going on. This is, this is a movement! This is something bigger than Barack Obama or Michelle Obama or anyone else in this room. Don’t you just feel it? It is amazing. (applause)
So, I am honored to be here. Over the last few months I’ve had an opportunity to take a few trips around the country with Barack, you may have read some of them. Most recently, I’ve been doing trips on my own. We try to take the girls when we can. The one thing people are most curious about of me, particularly the women, they want to know "how are you doing?" I mean, "how are you doing?" I’m like, "I know, I know". They really want to know how am I balancing this stuff. Balancing being a mother, a professional, a campaigner, a wife, a woman, right? And they want to know how have things changed for us over the course of this journey.

What I tell them is that essentially, like many women, I’m doing a whole lot of juggling. Juggling! We all do it. I’ve found that this period has been both challenging and thrilling at the same time for me. I’ve had to cut back on my hours at work. (Smirks) It’s okay. (audience laughs) I love my job, but I can’t, I have to pick one. That has given me some more time. With Barack away even more, my focus has been trying to keep my kids sane through all this. That is first and foremost for us, making sure Melia and Sasha stay in their routine as much as possible, for as long as possible. Barack and I measure how well we are doing by saying, "how are the girls?" And they are just fine. They are going to ballet and gymnastics, they care about the next play date, the next pizza party, and then there is their school. I have to worry about, making sure we are on point academically, that we go to all the parent-teacher conferences, and Barack still goes to those. It is quite a scheduling feat, but we make it happen; presentations, school plays. You all know the drill.
I would not be able to do it without this particular table, right here. These are the women in my life, my mother, momma Kay, the girl’s godmothers, girlfriends of mine who help me shuttle and keep me held up. I want my mother and momma Kay to stand. You gotta stand up. (audience applauds) As you will find, they’re also a little mischievous too.
And, at the same time, I’m still trying to find time for myself, getting the hair done, (audience laughs) yeah, come on, let’s not pretend we don’t know that getting the hair and nails done is important, and getting a workout ladies. That’s one of the things I always talk about, gotta exercise, so I am still trying to do that. And to top it all off, I have the pleasure of doing it all in front of the watchful eyes of our friends in the back. (audience laughs, Michelle waves to media) What’s up people? (more laughter) Other than that, things haven’t changed much. (laughter)
But seriously, with the exception of the campaign trail and life in the public eye, I have to say that my life now is not really that much different from many of yours. I wake up every morning wondering how on earth I am going to pull off that next minor miracle to get through the day. I know that everybody in this room is going through this. That is the dilemma women face today. Every woman that I know, regardless of race, education, income, background, political affiliation, is struggling to keep her head above water. We try to convince ourselves that somehow doing it all is a badge of honor, but for many of us it is a necessity and we have to be very careful not to lose ourselves in the process. More often than not, we as women, are the primary caretakers in our households, scheduling babysitters, planning play dates, keeping up with regular doctor’s appointments; this was my week last week, supervising homework, handing our discipline. Usually we are the ones in charge of keeping the household together. I know you men, I know that you guys try to do your part, but the reality is that we’re doing it, right? (laughter and applause) Laundry, cleaning, cooking, shopping, home repairs. You know Barack has my back, he’s right there with me, feels my pain, and all that. (laughter)
And, for those of us who work outside of the home as well, we have the additional challenge of coordinating these things with our job responsibilities. How many of us have had to be the ones, when a child gets sick, who is the one who stays home? Or, when a toilet overflows? This was a couple of months ago. I was scrambling around to reschedule being at a 9 o’clock meeting and Barack, love him to death, put on his clothes and he left! (laughter)
To top it off we have the added social pressure of looking good, staying slim, don’t add pounds, gotta look good with wardrobe pulled together, and we have to be in good spirits, right? (laughter) Ready to be supportive of our significant others. I’m tired just thinking about it. (laughter) But, again, these are not challenges that are unique to me. I say this all the time and people think I’m being modest. But, the truth is that my experiences tell me that we as women are facing what I call "the next level of challenges", balancing work, family, ourselves differently than ever before. My mother says this all the time. She’s like "I don’t know how you do it" and she means it.
We have made great strides with regards to equality at all levels of society and because of the struggles so many have fought, many of you right in this room, I know that my daughters can dream big. They really can. There is no ceiling. They can envision themselves anyway that they want, surgeons, Supreme Court justices, basketball stars, they have images that I never had growing up. But I wonder, what is the unspoken cost that having it all takes on us. If we’re scurrying to and from appointments and errands, we don’t have a lot of time to take care of our own mental and physical health and for many women, juggling, this adds another layer of stress. We see it in our health, women with increased heart attacks, diabetes, asthma, we’re up in the numbers, and this is no coincidence.
We have to really think through what the next level of challenges are for us. There just aren’t enough hours in the day so we do what we can. And, what is happening is that we do what we do what we can in spite of the fact that we’re not getting the needed kind of support from the government and society as a whole. The reality is that women and families are not getting the support that they need to thrive. We’ve spent the last decade talking a good game about family values but I haven’t seen much in my life that really shows us that we are a society that actually values families. (applause)
We have essentially ignored the plight of women and families. We’ve told them "you go figure it out". Figure out how you’re going to support a family on minimum wage and no benefits. You go figure out who is going to watch your children while you are at work without access to adequate, affordable childcare. You figure out how to keep your family healthy without access to quality health care, figure out how you are going to ensure that your children get the best education possible. You figure out how you are going to live without access to affordable housing. So, essentially, we’ve told women dream big, but after that, you are on your own. (applause)
I’m fortunate because, in addition to living in this community (gestures to table of mother and friends) one of the reasons we’ve stayed based in Chicago is not that we don’t like Washington, but that my support base is here and I can’t get through my day without it. So, I am blessed. I also know that I have a husband that actually loves me and supports me. Barack and I know that we have been very blessed in our lives and we don’t take anything for granted. I tease him all the time. You’ve all heard it. Today, he still didn’t put the butter up after he made his breakfast. I was like "you’re just asking for it, you know that I am giving a speech, why don’t you just put the butter up?" (laughter and applause) He said he was just giving me material. (laughter) I said, "yeah, right". He still doesn’t make the bed better than Sasha. (laughter) So I tease him.
But the reality is that my husband is a man who understands my unique struggle and the challenges facing women and families. It is not just because he lives with me, someone who is very opinionated and makes my point. I am not a martyr so he hears it. It is because he actually listens to me and has the utmost respect for my perspective and my life experience. It is also because he was raised in a household of strong women who he saw struggle and sacrifice for him to achieve his dreams. He saw his grandmother, the primary breadwinner in their household, work her entire life to support their whole family. He saw his mother, a very young, very single-parent trying to finish her education and raise two children across two continents. He sees his sister, a single-parent trying to eke out a life for herself and her daughter on a salary that is much too small. He sees it in the eyes of women he meets throughout the country, women who have lost children and husbands in the war, women who don’t have access to adequate healthcare, to affordable daycare or jobs that pay a living wage. Their stories keep him up at night. Their stories, our stories, are the foundation of what guides Barack throughout his life.
And, so we are here today, asking you to support us, to join us, to turn those worries into action to give women hope that there is someone like Barack who is not only decent, trustworthy, compassionate, smart and hard working, but he is also someone who recognizes that society, our community, is only as strong as our women and our families. (applause)
The trick is, we can’t do this without you. The difference now is that we have this window. That is the beauty of what is going on now. We aren’t going to be in this place in four years or eight years. We have the opportunity now. We can be a part of changing the way women are viewed in this country, and build a government that doesn’t just encourage women to dream big, but one that provides women and young girls with support and resources to pursue those dreams. I want that for my daughters. I want that for your daughters. I want that for this country. I know that we can do it, because I believe in Barack. I would not be here (laughter) Everyone knows (more laughter) Too many people know that I wouldn’t be here. But, I believe in his unique ability to bring people together. I see it every where I go. This is not an accident, ladies. It is not an accident.
But we need you to join us, because, you know what? Barack, as I tease, he’s a wonderful man, he’s a gifted man, but in the end, he is just a man. (laughter) He is an imperfect vessel and I love him dearly. (laughter and applause)
In all seriousness, he is going to get tired. He is tired now. He is going to make mistakes. He will stumble. Trust me, he will say things that you will not agree with all the time. He will not be able to move you to tears with every word that he says. You know? (laughter) But that is why this campaign is so important, because it is not all about Barack Obama. It is about all of us. It is about us turning these possibilities into action. I was just talking to Robin, here. Women, you know when something is right. You know it. This feels right and it is no accident. (applause and cheers)
So, we’re going to need you. I’m going to get tired. My hair is going to be messy. I am going to need every one in this room to call every friend, every neighbor, every woman who has felt disaffected, who hasn’t felt like there was somebody who would listen to them. I need you to get people to write $50 checks and $25 dollar checks, and to build a movement that is going to change this country. We have the chance today. (applause and cheers)
If we do that, ladies, if we grow this room from 1200 to 2400 (if Melia was here she could do the math a little better) and on and on, not only will we elect Barack Obama to be the next president of the United States, but we’ll do some real good in the process.
So, it is my distinct honor to introduce (and I don’t see him, so I hope he is here) my husband, the next president of the United States, Barack Obama.

More on the Chinese....

At the risk of sounding like Lou Dobbs...

The Chinese make Kenya a home away from home
By Ted Fackler

Wang Shan Kun, a Chinese from Jiangsu Province, arrived in Nairobi in 2000.
Like many Chinese in Kenya, Wang first came on a three-month tourist visa to survey business opportunities. He has stayed. Operating Dong Fang Development — two textile shops, an interior design shop, a construction shop and new car garage — Wang now employs more than 70 people in Nairobi.
Of the 70, nearly 40 are Kenyans working side-by-side with a handful of Chinese at the popular Dong Fang Auto Assembly Company Ltd in Hurlingham. Wang says: "China and Kenya good friends. Business is easier here than in China. I import many things. No factory. Import everything," he says in broken English, compensating for his speech barrier with a loud and authoritative voice.
While his family lives in Nairobi, and Wang travels to China twice a year, chances are he will remain in Kenya. He says: "If business is good, maybe stay."
Wang is not alone. Between 3,000 and 5,000 mainland Chinese live in Kenya.
But some Chinese put the number at 10,000 — unregistered and foreign-born Chinese. In addition, there is a growing tourist trade which saw 14,000 Chinese travel to Kenya last year, a significant increase over the 10,000 in 2005.
Zhu Jing, a Chinese Embassy spokesman says: "Since 2004, when China gave Kenya an Approved Tourist Destination Country, more tourists have been coming." Many arrive not for vacation, but scouting for business in the fast-emerging African market.
The Chinese interest is a far cry from where Kenya was in 1996. Eleven years ago, the Chinese were hardly in Kenya, and there seemed to have only been one Chinese restaurant, The Shanghai, in Nairobi. Now, it is estimated that there are about 40 restaurants — Fu Yong, Beijing Restaurant, JiangSu and ChopStix.
Also noticeable are traditional Chinese medical clinics that line the city streets. Enterprises owned by large Chinese companies operate in Kenya.
Among them are Chenghong Electronics (TV assembly and dry-cell batteries), Hwan Sang (furniture), CITCO (gas) and China Road and Bridge (construction).
Most noticeable, however, is the China Business Centre on Ngong Road, a shopping complex which houses Tafuna CafÈ, China KaiYue Hair Handicraft and Xiamen Wingin Machinery Company Ltd. Adjacent to it is a complex owned by the Xinhua News Agency. Further down the street is the China Economic Embassy.
What is China doing in Kenya? Why have average Chinese migrated to Kenya? Yuan Ming Yu came in 2000 to try something new. Yuan worked in a supermarket before moving to Kenya. She now owns the Sonic Auto Centre.
"Before, I worked during the day at the garage and night at restaurant. But very tired so I gave the restaurant to my best friend," says Yuan.
Then there is Beijing native Tan Wu, his wife and daughter. A jovial personality, Tan and his family own a struggling Chinese restaurant in Westlands. He fears that his daughter is forgetting how to read Chinese. They have not been home in five years.
Despite the uncertainty of life abroad, many Chinese have managed to bring China to Africa. At a cost of $2,600 for a TV satellite dish, CCTV can be watched in Nairobi. If that price is too steep, the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation airs two hours of CCTV everyday as does Citizen TV.
Also available is 91.3 FM China Radio International in Nairobi.
Not only is the Chinese entertainment fix being met, but more consumer products are stamped ‘Made in China’. As it is on Beijing city streets, fresh fruits and vegetables can be bought cheap. Add the Kenyan tea industry, the equatorial weather and the myriad Chinese restaurants, and it is no wonder Chinese citizens are making Kenya a home away from home.
However, life abroad is not without its setbacks. The Chinese deal with the rising locals’ complaint that their enterprises are stealing jobs. This quibble exists throughout Africa. Kenyan journalist Khamis Ramadhan says: "The Chinese are distributors, retailers, and producers. China is cheaper than Kenya, so they have an advantage over everything."
Other voices see the issue as more complicated. Mr Mike Chang, a senior manager with an East African shipping company, says: "It’s a vicious cycle, a very fine balance for Kenyans. What is better: Importing cheap Chinese products or manufacturing more expensive products?"
Not all Chinese are businessmen. Some are doctors, NGO and church workers, journalists and teachers. Some work at the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi, the first of its kind in Africa.
Kenyan traders also visit China. Mr John Ndegwa, the owner of Amarati Safaris, says: "Kenyans were importing products from Dubai. But now we buy from China because the Dubai stuff turned out to be Chinese-made."
For scholars of Sino-Kenyan history, the fascination dates back to 1405 when Chinese traders arrived in Malindi.
The writer is an American journalist in Beijing