MAMA SARA

Emotions ran high as elders from the Alego Kogelo clan in Karachuonyo received Mama Sara Obama, grandmother of US President Barack Obama, when she returned to the area at the weekend.

Amidst elaborate security, Mama Sara Obama’s arrival at the home of the former chairman of Kogelo East Africa, Mr Richard Odiwa Matara, who was being buried, threw the ceremony in disarray.

The Obama family is said to have originated from Karachuonyo.

Tinted windows

Veteran South Nyanza politician Akech Chieng, who was addressing mourners, had to cut short his speech as mourners jostled to have a glimpse of the US President’s grandmother as she emerged from a car with tinted windows.

Mama Sara caught her aides unawares when she sprung from her seat next to Chairman of Communications Commission of Kenya Mr Philip Okundi and joined mourners from Alego Kogelo Nyangoma, who had accompanied her, for a traditional jig in honour of the departed relative.

Addressing mourners on behalf of Mama Sara who was said to be exhausted, Mr Elijah Kobilo, the secretary of Obama Opiyo Foundation, said the people of Alego Kogelo in Siaya and those in Kendu bay, Karachuonyo had a strong bond.

Mr Kobilo said Karachuonyo is the original home of the Obama family where the graves of their great grandfathers were.

At some stage, Mama Sara’s security detail had a hectic time keeping people at bay as old men and women from Kogelo clan in Karachuonyo hugged her and exchanged pleasantries.