President Obama's late aunt to be buried in Kenya.

President Barack Obama's aunt Zeituni Onyango, who died of breast cancer on 7th April 2014, is to be buried in Kenya. Her family wants her body flown home for burial.

Mama Sarah Obama made the wish after receiving the news of her daughter’s death. In life, Ms Onyango fought hard to avoid Kenya, saying her life would be in danger if she were forced to return to her homeland.

In death, her family now wants her body returned home for its final rest. She was fighting to obtain US citizenship at the time of her death in a rehabilitation centre where she was being nursed. She had only been granted a waiver of deportation, which also allowed her to work in the United States. 

A 69-year-old man who claims to be legally married to late aunt Zeituni Onyango now wants to be allowed to bury her.

Continue after the cut...

Mr Ebel Mboya Okoko, who claims he married Zeituni in 1969, is unhappy with his mother in law Mama Sara Obama over what he alleges are attempts to sideline him in the burial arrangements. Mr Okoko is also unhappy with claims that he had died.

“I am bitter that one of the relatives had the audacity to allege that I died before my wife Zeituni left for US in 2000,” he said.

Mr Mustafa Obama, President Obama’s half-brother was recently reported as saying that they would have loved to accord their aunt a decent burial in Kendu bay. He said his aunt was indeed married in Kendu Bay according to Luo tradition but that her husband died before she left for US.

In an interview with the Nation at his Rachuonyo home, Mr Okoko demanded to know the source of information that he had died. “I am alive and strong. As a human being when my wife left I married a second wife and we have five children,” Mr Okoko.

He said he is contemplating seeking legal redress over the issue claiming it amounted to character assassination. Zeituni is survived by four children.