Obama grandmother to skip Saudi Hajj ceremony

By Ally Jamah

US President Barack Obama’s step grandmother will not join pilgrims for the annual Hajj ceremony in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

Instead, Sarah Obama, 87, will make the trip next year due to family issues she is attending to.

Early this year, she had created worldwide interest when she accepted the offer of Dubai businessman Sulaiman Al-Fahim to visit the holy city.

Her son Said Obama, who was to accompany her to Mecca, confirmed they would not be going.

"We have been busy with family issues and regret we won’t make the trip this year," he said on the telephone.

Said added although they had received many offers for sponsorships, they declined to go until next year.

In April, Dr Al-Fahim, who recently bought a stake in the English Premier League side Manchester City, visited Mrs Obama (pictured) at her Kogelo home in Siaya.

"I have a wife, but not a mother so she (Sarah) can take that place and join us to the Hajj," he said.

Speaking through a translator, Sarah had accepted the Hajj offer.

Meanwhile, the last batches of Kenyan pilgrims will leave between November 14 and 21. This is according to the Kenya Hajj Mission vice chairman Sheikh Shariff Hussein.

"No one will be allowed to enter Saudi Arabia after November 21 as a pilgrim, and Hajj visas will be invalid by then," he said.

 

 

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