Kenyans in US explain their massive support for Hillary's bid to be president

Marta Lunez, supporter of US Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, reacts to elections results during election night at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York on November 8, 2016. / AFP PHOTO /

If Kenyans living in the US had it their way, Hillary Clinton would have won the US presidential election.

Like their counterparts back home, they overwhelmingly supported Clinton against her rival, Donald Trump, but for varied reasons.

Although some expressed reservations about whether her administration would have been pro-Africa, they argued she was a better candidate than Trump.

A number admitted that the election did not inspire much confidence compared to the previous two elections that saw President Barack Obama become president.

"This election cycle has been dispiriting and unprecedented, for Americans or from the perspective of a Kenyan. The politics was off the book," said Mukurima Muriuki, a conflict resolution strategist in Los Angeles, California.

Mr Muriuki also took issue with the level of political discourse among the candidates.

"As a Kenyan, I have seen politicians in my country go after each other during campaigns and make the elections about personalities. But experiencing the same thing in the US is just extraordinary," he said.

Although Sylvia Ndunge from Maryland has little or no interest in US politics, she voted for Clinton.

"Given that we didn't have any good choice between the two main presidential candidates, I chose the best between Clinton and Trump. I am a Democrat but if the Republican side offered a better alternative, I would have voted for that person," she said.

Ms Ndunge explained that when it came to stock-taking, Clinton's evils overrode Trump's.

Dan Okoth, another resident of Maryland, said he supported Clinton because he believed she would have delivered as the first woman president.

"I have two little girls and believe a Trump presidency has no future for them. I voted for Hillary because of her leadership skills in government,, which have been tested," he said.

Clinton's leadership, he said, had passed the test of time.

Ben Mbuiga said it would have been historic for America to have a woman president, especially after another historic moment eight years ago when Obama, the first African-American president, took office.

"I voted for Hillary because if you compare the two, she is the lesser evil. When she was cleared of the emails scam by the Federal Investigations Bureau (FBI) the stock market shot up. As for Trump, I don't know him and the stock market has not been favourable to him," said Mr Mbuiga.

He regretted that both leaders forgot about the people and engaged in personal issues.

"Trump threw mud at Hillary and she did the same. Republicans have always been pro-Africa. President Obama did not do much for Africa despite having links with the continent," he said.

Although he voted for Clinton, he is taking solace in the Republican party's long history of practical engagement with Africa.

"Former President George Bush's government did a lot in Africa. Obama was a big disappointment. Africa is the next big frontier and any serious economy cannot afford to ignore it," he said.

Trump, he added, might just be the answer to China's growing influence in Africa.

Another Kenyan, Martin Thuo, said this year's campaigns ignored foreign policies.

"Trump's candidature for the presidency has been very divisive. He is a racial bigot. I believe Hillary would have advanced President Obama's agenda, such as healthcare," he said.

He expressed optimism that Trump would engage Africa.

"During former President George Bush's time, he helped initiate many projects such as fighting malaria and HIV and Aids," he said.

Clinton Gachangi, a resident of Boston, said he enjoyed the charged campaigns between the two candidates.

"Trump aroused a militant sectarian electorate that can be divided between the rich business owners and the poor, uneducated white majority," he said.

Now that Clinton has lost to Trump, a number of Kenyans living in the US expressed uncertainty about the future of immigrants in the country.

"Trump's administration will hinder the prospects of immigrants gaining access to living, working or studying in the US," said Mr Gachangi.