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Funeral held for Barack Obama’s grandmother
Sarah Onyango Obama, a Kenyan educator and philanthropist who promoted education for girls and orphans, was laid to rest on Tuesday (March 30).She was also former U.S. President Barack Obama’s grandmother.In her home village of Kogelo in eastern Kenya, mourners chanted and wailed for the woman popularly known as ‘Mama Sarah’.Her grandson Malik Obama said it was a day of great sadness, but they have to accept the will of God.”Allah brings us here and Allah takes us back. This is our home and we thank you for coming and we extend our gratitude to all the people who have come to support us here.”Obama died at a hospital in Kisumu on Monday (March 29) and was said to be 99 years old.Kogelo resident Dan Omondi said many had benefited from a foundation she had established.”So while Sarah rests in peace, we the Kogelo residents are quite happy. We wish that more Mama Sarah Obama are born.”In recognition of her work to support education, ‘Mama Sarah’ received the inaugural Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Education Pioneer Award from the United Nations in 2014.She was the third wife of the paternal grandfather of Barack Obama and attended his first inauguration in 2009.