This Obama’s For You

As the Democratic Presidential contenders duke it out here at home, in Kenya a beer nicknamed in honor of Barack Obama has already emerged as a winner. Known officially as Senator Keg, the draft brew was launched by East African Breweries (a unit of London-based Diageo) in November, 2004, the same month that Obama—whose father was born in Kenya—won his U.S. Senate seat. That was a coincidence, the company says. But Kenyans, proud of Obama’s connection to their country, have dubbed the drink “Obama” beer. Demand is surging for “Obama,” which, at 30¢ a glass, is marketed to low-income consumers as an alternative to dangerous but cheap home brews. More than half of Kenya’s 32 million people live on less than a dollar a day, and mainstream beers, at $1 to $3 a bottle, are out of reach for most. By now, “Obama” is so popular the brewer is barely meeting demand. East African Breweries spokesman Ken Kariuki says the company expects to expand output at its Nairobi plant in April. –Eliza Barclay