One major plus to my Independent Study research is its proximity to Alego, a small village in the region Siaya, home to Barack Obama’s grandmother, Sarah Hussein Anyango Obama. Just this last weekend, two students studying in Kisumu town, my buddy Jon (studying Luo politics in Nairobi), and I were lucky enough to spend 3 days in Siaya and visit this lovely lady.
On Saturday, we arrived in Alego via car from Simenya, the tiny village where we stayed with Samm, our homestay coordinator in Nairobi, at his rural home. As we pulled up the driveway, heading completely unannounced to the home of the grandmother of one of the states’ most prominent politicians (I’m thinking you probably couldn’t do this for any grandmother of a US politician living within our borders), Sarah (age 85) was hard at work in her shamba, where the family plants beans and corn. She dropped her hoe and headed over to her small, humble home, barefoot and sweating, to welcome the four of us wazungu students.
We spoke with Barack Obama’s grandmother for 2 hours. She talked about the Senator’s visits back to his homeland, where he has helped to bury his mother and even build himself a small hut, his quest to discover more about his Luo father, Hussein Obama, and his prospects of becoming president of the US. Sarah was a little “hush-hush” about political issues, as she’s apparently been misquoted by some prominent American sources in the past. I laughed aloud when I thought about the idea of this 85-year-old Kenyan woman, who has spent her entire life working hard in rural Kenya, strolling through the White House while visiting her (maybe) President grandson. Crazy to think about. It was nice to hear that Barack is true to his roots, recognizing that Kenya is his real home, and it’s nice to think that, should he succeed in winning the Presidency, help will maybe proceed to this country in dire need. Can’t say I’ve made up my mind who I will vote for come Primaries or November ’08, but I also don’t think I’ll be able to say I’ve spoken with Hillary’s or Edwards’ grandmothers. A cool connection, for sure.
On Saturday, we arrived in Alego via car from Simenya, the tiny village where we stayed with Samm, our homestay coordinator in Nairobi, at his rural home. As we pulled up the driveway, heading completely unannounced to the home of the grandmother of one of the states’ most prominent politicians (I’m thinking you probably couldn’t do this for any grandmother of a US politician living within our borders), Sarah (age 85) was hard at work in her shamba, where the family plants beans and corn. She dropped her hoe and headed over to her small, humble home, barefoot and sweating, to welcome the four of us wazungu students.
We spoke with Barack Obama’s grandmother for 2 hours. She talked about the Senator’s visits back to his homeland, where he has helped to bury his mother and even build himself a small hut, his quest to discover more about his Luo father, Hussein Obama, and his prospects of becoming president of the US. Sarah was a little “hush-hush” about political issues, as she’s apparently been misquoted by some prominent American sources in the past. I laughed aloud when I thought about the idea of this 85-year-old Kenyan woman, who has spent her entire life working hard in rural Kenya, strolling through the White House while visiting her (maybe) President grandson. Crazy to think about. It was nice to hear that Barack is true to his roots, recognizing that Kenya is his real home, and it’s nice to think that, should he succeed in winning the Presidency, help will maybe proceed to this country in dire need. Can’t say I’ve made up my mind who I will vote for come Primaries or November ’08, but I also don’t think I’ll be able to say I’ve spoken with Hillary’s or Edwards’ grandmothers. A cool connection, for sure.
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