Worshippers in Kisumu, in the heartland of US White House hopeful Barack Obama's Kenyan family, prayed for the Democrat senator's victory in the November 4 presidential poll. At Kisumu's Baptist Church, dozens of Christian faithful sang and prayed for Obama, who has become the East African nation's favourite son and whose White House bid has triggered a wave of enthusiasm and seen support groups crop up all over Kenya. Raising their hands in the air, grimacing worshippers weaved their prayers into a chorus over keyboard tunes belting through a homemade woofer. Other special prayer sessions were scheduled across the western Kenyan region in the final run-up to Tuesday's vote. Sarah Palin, the vice presidential candidate on the rival Republican ticket, famously received a blessing earlier this year in Alaska from a visiting Kenyan pastor who claims special powers against witchcraft.