Osama’s death makes life more complicated for Sarah Obama

Sarah Obama (right) surrounded by journalists at her Nyang’oma Kogello home. Mama Sarah looks back at her past life with nostalgia, but says that she is content to remain indoors. Photo/FILE

Before her grandson was elected to the most powerful office on earth, Sarah Obama was an ordinary grandmother living a quiet life unperturbed by occurrences beyond her immediate surroundings.

But the last four years since Barack Obama became the President of the United States of America have seen a complete change in her life and her quiet dusty Kogelo village has consequently been thrust into the limelight.

Days after Obama became US president, graders roared to life levelling the bumpy village roads, and water began flowing in the taps while electricity was installed. The home was fenced and a police post erected in the compound.

Visitors have been coming from far and wide including ambassadors and local politicians; musicians no less than Kanda Bongo Man, historians and biographers have all been Sarah Obama’s guests.

The granny became an overnight celebrity, and her village a tourist attraction. Another layer of complexity was added two weeks ago after her grandson announced to the world news of the killing of master terrorist Osama bin Laden.

This saw security detail at her home beefed up after pro-Osama militants threatened to avenge the death.

An attack on Mama Sarah would be a major victory for the terrorists especially because President Obama had himself authorised the operation that led to bin Laden’s killing.

Mama Sarah looks back at her past life with nostalgia, but argues that she is content to remain indoors.

She also admits that the security detail around her has cut down the number of visitors she can see in a day.

“I am still the old Mama Sarah who sold vegetables at the local market, but nowadays I cannot do that due to my advanced age and poor health,” she says.

She added that her knee problem means she has to walk with the aid of a walking stick.

Mama Sarah, who retains her warmth and infectious personality, seems an unlikely person to be receiving 24-hour security.

But that is what has happened since bin Laden’s death. Nyanza PC Francis Mutie announced tough security measures to avert possible retaliatory attacks aimed at the Obama family.

Mama Sarah explains: “They (security personnel) feared that the home could be a target of terrorist attacks so more officers were deployed.

“Our lives are in the hands of Allah (God) whom we worship regularly to provide care and protection not only to the family but the whole world.”

According to Mr Mutie, nobody will be allowed to visit the home without prior clearance by the authorities.

The PC said visitors, including relatives, would undergo thorough screening before they are allowed to visit the granny.

It is no longer enough that one gets consent from the family to visit. Police officers manning the gate screen the visitors then talk to their bosses in Siaya who then give the green light or deny entry.

“The busy schedule that I had previously of receiving many visitors up to late in the evening is now gone following the killing of Osama.

“Many of my friends have also kept away since they learnt of the new rules. But there is nothing we can do since the police must do their work. We cannot interfere with their work,” said Mama Sarah.

According to the PC, Mama Sarah has been assigned  a special escort, which will be part of her convoy at all times.

This is a big change for a village woman. Five years ago, the granny could be seen walking to the market daily to trade her wares.

In her free time, she could be seen tending to her chicken in the compound with sheep bleating in the background.

She walked to the local mosque on Fridays, mingled with other village women and attended other village functions like everybody else.

She largely went unnoticed. There were no bodyguards, no appointments, and no protocol.

All that has changed. Billionaire Dr Sulaiman al-Fahim — the man behind the mega-rich English premiership side Manchester City — even sponsored her for the Hajj pilgrimage after a visit in 2009.

Then came the honours: the Great Lakes University awarded her an honorary doctorate of letters.

And thanks to this turn of fate, the economy of Kogelo has changed with the price of land reaching unprecedented highs.