Mama Sarah Obama, grandmother of ex-US president dies at 99

 

Mama Sarah Obama, the grandmother to former U.S. President Barack Obama, has died, the family has said.

She died on Monday morning at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Hospital in Kisumu, Western Kenya. She was 99.

Speaking to Capital FM news agency, Mrs. Obama’s daughter, Marsat Onyango, said her mother had been in poor health for some time.

“It’s true she went to be with her Lord,” Marsat said on phone overcome with emotion.

Mama Sarah had taken up an initiative to care for destitute children as well as helping the widows in Siaya’s Kogelo village.

In a message of comfort, Kenyan President Kenyatta mourned the Obama family matriarch as an icon of family values and a philanthropist whose contribution to the progress of the Kenyan nation shall be dearly.

“The passing away of Mama Sarah is a big blow to our nation. We’ve lost a strong, virtuous woman. A matriarch who held together the Obama family and was an icon of family values.”

"The passing away of Mama Sarah is a big blow to our nation🇰🇪. We've lost a strong, virtuous woman. A matriarch who held together the Obama family and was an icon of family values," ~President Uhuru Kenyatta

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— State House Kenya (@StateHouseKenya) March 29, 2021