I am sad to announce that Grandma Sarah Obama passed away earlier today in western Kenya following a short illness, aged 99.
Granny was a strong advocate for children’s education and supported the schooling for many young girls near to her family home in Kogelo. Since being introduced to our work through her grandson Roy Obama and good friend Tim Fox, she quickly became a great supporter, encouraging young people to visit so that she could give them her blessing.
We were honoured when Granny agreed to become our Patron in 2013 and it was always a high point of any visit to Kenya when RRBF supporters were able to meet her. She was always eager to promote the welfare of young people and gracious to invite us into her home.
The affection of US President Obama for his grandmother is very clear for all to see in his book, ‘Dreams from My Father’, when he wrote about his father’s upbringing at their humble family home.
She was in many ways, Kenya’s grandmother, and we will miss her generous spirit and kindness.
Tributes have already been made by many including Kenyan President Kenyatta, who announced her passing.
“The passing away of Mama Sarah is a big blow to our nation. We’ve lost a strong, virtuous woman. A matriarch who held together the Obama family and was an icon of family values.
She was a loving and celebrated philanthropist who graciously shared the little she had with the less fortunate in her community”.