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Mama Sarah Onyango Obama, a philanthropist and President Barack Obama’s grandmother, has died at 99.
Mama Sarah, as she was affectionately known, garnered national fame in Kenya upon Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential election. Her home also became a major tourist attraction following his election.
“We will miss her dearly,” Barack Obama said, “but we’ll celebrate with gratitude her long and remarkable life.”

A staple in her community, she ran a foundation in Kenya to help educate orphans and girls.

Mama Sarah passed away on Monday at a hospital in Kisumu in western Kenya, her daughter Marsat Onyango told Kenya’s Daily Nation newspaper.
A family spokesman said she had been unwell for a week but did not have COVID-19, per BBC.
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