Remembering Mama Sarah: Philanthropist And Obama Family Matriarch Dies In Kenya At 99

Tributes are flooding in for Sarah Obama, philanthropist and step-grandmother of former U.S. President Barack Obama.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said in a statement that Sarah Obama passed away on Monday while receiving treatment at a hospital in the port city of Kisumu. He said she was 99, though the Associated Press reports she was "at least" that age. Kisumu Gov. Anyang Nyong'o said she died after a brief illness.

The Obama family matriarch, who was known widely as "Mama Sarah," was a beloved figure who spent much of her life promoting education for orphans and girls. Kenyatta said she will be remembered for her philanthropic work and the community development projects she led in her home village of Kogelo.