Sarah Obama, Grandmother to Barrack Hussein Obama, the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017, is dead.
Sarah’s death was confirmed by her daughter Masat Obama on Monday morning, March 29, 2021.
Marsat said the 99-year old Kenyan, hailing from Kogelo Alego in Siaya County, died at around 4.30 a.m while undergoing treatment at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH)
Mama Sarah, who has been battling diabetes for two years, was admitted at the hospital on Sunday morning.
According to the daughter, Barack’s grandmother was rushed to Avenue Hospital in Kisumu early last week after falling critically ill. However, they later moved her to JOOTRH where she died hours later.
Being a staunch Muslim, her burial is expected to happen within the shortest hours possible.
Speaking to the media shortly after her death, Sheikh Musa Ismail, the family’s spokesperson, said the family is working out plans to see her body moved to her rural home Kogelo as they prepare to lay her to rest on Tuesday.
Sheikh Musa further refuted ongoing claims that she had died of COVID-19, saying she tested negative on Sunday March 28, 2021, just a day before succumbing.
“She was tested on Sunday and the results were negative. She didn’t die because of Covid-19,” he said.
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Confirming whether they had already informed Barrack Obama and his family about the demise, he added that they have been updating him on her progress including her death as soon as it occurred. He further said the former US President has already sent his condolence to the family.
“He is in touch with the family and he is saddened by the sad news,” he said
Shortly later, another family member said they are deliberating on two options; to bury her today (Monday) at Sunni Muslim Cemetry in Kisumu or move her to Kogelo which is only 58.1km away and bury her tomorrow.
“We are trying to see whether we shall be able to bury her today and if not, we shall bury her tomorrow,” said the relative.
Sarah Ogwel, sometimes called so by some of her peers, was the second born in a family of twelve, confirmed her 83-year-old sister Mwanahawa Abdala. Out of the twelve, only Mwanahawa is still alive.
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She has left behind four children, including Zeitun Onyango and Sayed Obama who also present at JOOTRH’s mortuary on Monday during the viewing of her body.
Dr George Rae, the hospital’s CEO who broke the news of her demise to the family, declined to share more details.
Malik Obama, politician and Barrack Obama’s half-brother, also arrived at the hospital on Monday morning to view the body. He is yet to speak about the demise.
A section of Kenyans have been sending their condolences messages to the family, friends and relatives.
While speaking about her grandmother’s death, Barack Obama, via his veried Twitter account, hailed their “Dani” ( a Luo term for grandmother) for leaving a remarkable impact on their lives.
All eyes are now set on the former President as to whether he will travel to Kenya to mourn his “Dani” or not.
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