The Star – Mama Sarah Obama has been feted for her work with orphans and vulnerable children in Siaya county.
Sarah, who is the grandmother of US President Barack Obama, yesterday received the Head of State Commendation award presented by Nyanza Regional Coordinator Francis Mutie in Kisumu town.
“We must unite and give back to society. I will continue with my support for the children in Siaya and other counties,” she said while receiving the award.
Mutie praised Mama Sarah for her efforts to provide needy children with food, education and shelter. He said more than 1,000 children have benefited through the programmes initiated by Mama Sarah Obama’s Foundation, which was set up four years ago.
Mama Sarah said she will work closely with the government and other stakeholders to improve the lives of needy children. She blamed the rise in the number of orphans in Nyanza on the HIV-Aids scourge.
Mama Sarah asked residents and health workers should work together to fight the disease. Two years ago, Great Lake University of Kisumu feted her for spearheading change among vulnerable children.
Since the commissioning of the foundation, Mama Sarah has been in the forefront of championing the welfare of orphans in Kogelo village.
During the ceremony, Maranda High School principal Boaz Owino received the Head of State Commendation for his commitment to promoting academic excellence.
Mutie praise Owino for his tireless work that enabled Maranda to beat academic giants in the 2011 and 2012 KCSE examinations.
Owino exuded confidence that the school will record better results in this year’s examinations despite of a fire gutting four of the institution’s dormitories.
He said they have rebuilt the dormitories at the cost of Sh25 million and the students behind the fire taken to court.
