BY LAWRENCE ALURU
Siaya, Kenya: US President Barrack Obama’s grandmother has donated 10 acres of land for the construction of Kogelo Cultural Centre in Siaya County.
In her quest to preserve the Luo tradition for the younger generation, Mama Sarah Obama managed to purchase the land, four years after the Government allocated Sh100 million for the project.
With a beaming smile on her face, Sarah explained that when she learnt that the project was in honour of the late Hussein Obama (US President’s father), she started agonising on where to get the land.
However, with the help of friends, she got funds and purchased land adjacent to her home.
“I had a very small piece of land but that could not stop me from buying one for this project. I have set aside not less than 10 acres,” she said.
Speaking at her home when donating the parcel yesterday, Sarah said her pride lies in the development of her community and the county at large.
“This project will create jobs for the youth in the community. It will also act as an educative centre where our children will come to learn,” Sarah said.
The Government had allocated Sh100 million four years ago for the construction of the facility but controversy over where it would be located impeded efforts to start the project. The centre will be used to showcase how man lived with three wives in one home during the ninth generation of the famous Kogelo clan.
It is to assist the Government in playing an important role in development, promotion and support of creative cultural activities that have potential in creating wealth and employment as an economic pillar for Vision 2030.
Present at the meeting were the District Commissioner Kepha Marube, Alego Usonga MP George Muluan and the project initiator Prof Isaiah Nengo. Prof Nengo, a US-based Kenyan urged the community to support the project when it kicks off.
Nengo, who is also from Kogelo but lives in the US, said the project was not only educative but will act as a source of income for the community.
