Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital recorded more than 50 births, which coincided with US President Barrack Obama’s visit in Kenya between Friday and yesterday.
Interestingly, approximately half of the deliveries were named after the US first family, with male babies named Barack Obama and females named Michelle, Sasha or Malia.
Janet Atieno is one of the mothers who made it to the record after delivering a bouncing baby girl.
Yesterday at about 8am, Atieno, who had been following the proceedings of the US president’s visit, was sent to the labour ward. Two hours later, a baby girl was successfully delivered, weighing 3.37 kilogrammes. She named her Michelle Obama.
According to Atieno, she had planned to name her child after Barack Obama but delivered a baby girl.
Atieno said her plans to name the baby after a member of the famous family was due to the hope that the baby would grow to be as successful as the US first family. She said she never expected that the delivery would come at a time when the son of K’Ogelo was visiting the country.
“I thought I would deliver later than it has happened. Obama’s coming was highly publicised in the media and I made a decision that I would name my child after him,” said Atieno.
It was the first delivery for the resident of Kondele Estate.
“I am happy that there were no complications during the delivery, and I hope the baby will successfully grow up and follow the footsteps of the people she is named after,” she said.
Most relatives visiting the mothers were proposing to name their babies after Obama.
“This is the moment to give our children the names that would light up the memories of his (Obama) grand visit,” said Moses Ochieng’.