By Kepher Otieno and George Olwenya
Many people claiming kinship to US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama have come up, making it difficult to tell their authenticity.
Obama’s late father hailed from Kogelo clan, Siaya District.
Last week, Prime Minister Raila Odinga said his mother was from the clan. In fact, I came to visit my uncles, whose homes are a stone’s throw away from here," said Raila when he paid Sarah Obama a surprise visit.
The story of Obama’s family is fascinating.
The internet-based encyclopedia, Wikipedia, lists a number of Obama’s paternal relatives. Hussein Onyango Obama, who passed on in 1979, aged 85, was the Senator’s grandfather.
Living in the UK
Barack Obama Snr fathered six other sons and a daughter. All but one live in Britain or the US.
Habiba Akumu Obama is Obama’s paternal grandmother, and second wife to Onyango.
Obama’s great grandfather left Alego in Siaya and settled at Kanyadhiang in Kendu Bay where the grandfather, Hussein Obama was brought up.
The family is divided into two with others now at Kogelo in Siaya and others in Kendu Bay, Rachuonyo District, where the great grand father was buried.
Senator Obama has a stepmother, Kezia Aoko Obama who has a home at Kogelo in Siaya but has been living in the UK.
Aoko arrived in Kenya late last month from Bracknell, UK.
Obama’s half-sister, Maya, is now a professor at the University of Hawaii, in the US. Maya became an expert on feminine crafts, such as weaving and basket-making.
Proud of him
When The Standard caught up with Aoko at a supermarket in Kisumu on her way to Kogelo, she declined an interview.
Auma, Obama’s step-sister, is now the family spokesperson. She first met Obama when he came to visit his grandmother.
"She was so proud of him. I remember he was glowing with pride when he became the first black Senator," Auma recalls.
Obama’s relatives in Siaya include stepbrothers and sisters Malik Obama, Mark Obama, George Obama and David who has since died.
His grandmother Sarah and uncle Said Obama are among close family members in Siaya.
His uncles Elijah Kobilo, Yonga Adhiambo are among family members in Kendu Bay.
