Keziah Obama's body arrives in Siaya for burial

Mourners carry the body of Keziah Aoko Obama, the stepmother of former US President Barrack Obama at her home in Kogelo Siaya County on April 30, 2021, ahead of the burial. Keziah, the mother to Malik Obama, Auma, Aboo and Sadik Obama died at London hospital on April 13, 2021, after a long illness. (Collins Oduor, Standard)

The body of Keziah Aoko Obama, the stepmother to former US President Barrack Obama has arrived in Kogelo, Siaya County.

Keziah who passed on in the UK two weeks ago is to be laid to rest today.

A chartered plane carrying Keziah’s remains arrived at Kisumu airport at around 1pm.

At the airport, the family waited for about 20 minutes for a hearse that would ferry the body to her Kogelo home. 

Mama Keziah Aoko Onyango's home in Kogelo Siaya county. (Collins Oduor, Standard)

The body was received by Kisumu County chief protocol officer Bob Madanji. 

The late Keziah was the mother of Barack Obama’s half-brother, Malik Abong’o Obama, Auma, Aboo and Sadik died at a London hospital on April 13, after a long illness.

Emotions ran high as villagers flocked her home in Kogelo which is next to the late Mama Sarah Obama's home when the body was being brought in.

The body arrived in Kogelo village at 3:30pm in a convoy of about 10 vehicles with one police Landcruiser clearing the way.

The Obama family tree. [File, Standard]

 

There was not much restriction as villagers were allowed inside the compound to mourn with close relatives.

Residents had to wait for the body to be cleaned before viewing.

Early on Friday morning, Malik told The Standard that the burial will take place today by 1pm.

"The body arrived in the country today morning and will be taken to Siaya for a night vigil and then a burial tomorrow by 1pm, "Malik had said.

Madanji who represented Governor Anyang Nyongo at the airport told the media that Senator James Orengo and Nyongo will attend the burial today.

The family raised funds to facilitate the ferrying of the body for burial at her Kogelo village home in Siaya County.

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