Kenyans have been typically creative in trying to ride Barack Obama's coattails to financial gain. But the latest attempt at bandwagon marketing is tastier than most.

Senator beer -- which was popularly renamed "Obama" after Kenya's favorite son was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004 -- has given itself a promotion to match Obama's. Now you can buy President beer, a special edition lager that the ads say is on sale for a limited time (limited, I believe, to the amount that East African Breweries can bottle and sell).

As far as I can tell, this is just a new label on the same brew. I've never been a huge fan of Senator/Obama beer, but like African Safari, I believe in any alternative to the watery, bitter Tusker, the national brand. The President ads say, "To those who know they can make a difference," and I applaud the restraint of whoever decided not to go with a play on "Yes we can."

A new alcohol tax regime could make this holiday season more expensive for Kenya's big drinkers. But Kenyans don't easily bow to the law when it comes to beer, a national pastime. It was only a couple of years ago, after all, that the introduction of Breathalyzer machines on the roads just before Christmas caused such a public outcry that the police pulled them off the streets. (Read no further than the headline on the alcohol tax story, which says "Treasury spoils the party.")