Mama Sarah: Please visit your father’s grave

Mama Sarah Obama talking to the press at Kisumu International Airport before she left for Nairobi to receive her grandson US President Barack Obama 24/07/15. [PHOTO/TITUS MUNALA/STANDARD]

 

Mama Sarah Obama intends to persuade US President Barack Obama to visit K'Ogelo and pray at his father's grave in fulfilment of Luo traditions.

 

Speaking at Kisumu International Airport a few minutes before boarding a Kenya Airways flight to Nairobi, Mama Sarah said she will try to convince her grandson to visit K'Ogelo village of Siaya County.

"I do not know whether he will come to K'Ogelo, but I will try to convince him to come to Siaya because the people from his home place are anticipating his coming," she said.

According to Luo elder Odungi Randa, it would be culturally significant for Obama to pray at his father's grave since he was not present for his burial.

"He can also come with a wreath and put it on the grave. For Obama, this would be a sign of respect and remembrance for his late father," he said.

He added that if Obama were to be overcome by emotions, tradition would allow him to cry at the grave side and pull a chair and sit next to it.

"If he comes and does that, he will get blessings and I will be happy," said Mama Sarah.

Mama Sarah, who was in a cheerful mood, said she would be more than delighted if Obama accepted her request. She said he should not be worried about where he would sleep if he went down to K'Ogelo.

"People have been saying that Obama cannot come and sleep at K'Ogelo because he does not have a house in my homestead. He does, I built for him a simba (a house built by a son at the family homestead) next to his father's grave. But Luo tradition also allows him to sleep in my house as my grandson," she said.

Mama Sarah also revealed that she is taking a traditional Luo stool and "God's word" to her grandson.

"I am not going to meet just him; his sister Auma and I will get a chance to spend time with him. Meeting him in Kenya while he is a President of the most powerful country is God's blessing. I will tell him to also focus on Kenya, much as he is mandated to take care of America," she said.

Mama Sarah was in the company of her daughter Masart Obama and a relative Henry Sidiga. She and other family members, including those who reside in Homa Bay, will be meeting the US President.

According to Lilian Supa, a Siaya County employee stationed at Mama Sarah's homestead, the grandmother was in a jovial mood on Thursday night as they packed her belongings in preparation for the trip to Nairobi.

"She has told us to go back home and prepare the home because she is going to try convince him to come down to K'Ogelo," she said.

Siaya resident Lilian Andiwo, said she and her neighbours are highly anticipating that Obama might visit K'Ogelo village.

This is despite an announcement made by US ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec that Obama's schedule will be tight and that he will major on fostering business ties.

K'Ogelo village in Siaya County is the home of President Obama's father Barack Hussein Obama and area residents have high expectations that he would make a visit there. Obama is expected to attend a three-day Global Entrepreneurship Summit that will be held at the United Nations offices in Gigiri.