The grandmother of former U.S. President Barack Obama, Sarah Obama, has died.
Ms Obama died at the age of 99, after a long-standing medical battle since 2019.
The news of her passing was confirmed by her daughter, Marsat Obama, who told the Standard that Ms Obama died at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kisumu, on Monday morning, following her admission to the intensive care unit of the hospital on Sunday morning.
Arguably the oldest living matriarch of the Obama lineage, in his memoir “Dreams From My Father”, Mr Obama referred to her as “Granny” and mentioned meeting her during a visit to Kenya in 1998.
Kenyans have taken to social media to mourn the matriarch’s passing. ODM leader Raila Odinga remembered her for keeping the family going long after her husband’s death.
“In between, she became a symbol of the resilience and confidence of the African woman with a unique capacity to face the challenges of life.
“She utilised her grandson President Barack Obama’s success to promote girls’ education and fight social ills through her Foundation,” Mr Odinga tweeted.
President Uhuru Kenyatta also shared his condolences with the Obama family following the death of the matriarch.
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