Obama Stepmother 'Sarah Obama' Passes Away at 99 Years Old

Met Mrs. Sarah Obama and former U.S. President Barack Obama in Kenya in 2006 [Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunbyeol Kim] Sarah Obama, the step-grandmother of former U.S. President Barack Obama, has passed away, AP News and others reported on the 29th (local time). She was 99 years old.

According to foreign media, Mrs. Obama died on the morning of the day at a hospital in Kisumu, western Kenya. The family stated that her health had not been good recently and clarified that she did not contract COVID-19.

Mrs. Obama was the third wife of Hussein Onyango Obama, the grandfather of former President Obama. She sparked controversy during the 2008 U.S. presidential election by mentioning that her grandson was a Muslim and was not born in the United States. However, she dispelled the controversy by attending the presidential inauguration the following year.

Former President Obama referred to Sarah Obama as "Granny Sarah" in his memoir Dreams from My Father, expressing affection. When he visited Kenya as president, he met Mrs. Obama along with other family members, and after his retirement in 2018, he personally visited her home.

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