Residents of Kogelo mourn the death of Obama’s aunt, Zeituni Onyango

Half-aunt of President Obama, Zeituni Onyango

BY LAWRENCE ALURU

Kogelo, Kenya: Grief has gripped residents of Siaya County’s Kogelo village following the death of the US President Barrack Obama’s aunty.

Ms Rose Ochieng' who spoke to The Standard said the information about the death was shocking since they did not hear much about Zeituni Onyango’s illness.

"This is a shock to us because it has come at an unxpected time," she said.

Security at Mama Sarah’s home was tight as some of the residents wailed outside the gate.

In Nyang'oma market, business came to a standstill with traders gathered in small groups as they tried coming to terms with the tragedy.

Ms Zeituni, 62, died yesterday in the US where she has been living since the year 2000.

Mama Sarah whose voice was frantic when speaking to The Standard said she had to turn back mourning residents since she had not had full details about the death of Ms Onyango.

"I could not allow the residents to come home because I did not have enough details about the death of Zeituni," she said.

She said said that they expect the deceased to be brought home even though they had not received any detailed report from the US.

She added that Ms Zaituni has not taken long since they heard of her sickness early last month.

"We only heard that she was hospitalized but we did not know if it was such a serious case that could take her life," she added.

South East Alego ward representative Joshua Osuri said that the death comes at a time  that they are concentrating on putting up different development projects in the county.

Osuri who was among the many mourners that wanted to visit Mama Sarah, said they were still trying to come to terms with what had happened.

Zeituni is the half-aunt of President Obama. She is the half-sister of Obama's late father Barack Obama Sr and a sister to Onyango Obama who lives the US.

In 2000, she went to the United States and sought political asylum in 2002 citing violence but her case was denied.